After approval by the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag on October 18, two days later, the BAAINBw procurement office signed a framework agreement with the main contractor ATLAS Elektronik GmbH for the procurement and integration of four underwater reconnaissance drones of the “SeaCat” type for maritime mine defense. As the office announced, the contractual partner will deliver a total of four autonomous underwater reconnaissance drones and ensure their integration on the mine hunting boats. The contract also provides for the adaptation of the existing training and testing facility. In addition, if necessary, additional drones can be ordered at short notice.
According to the BAAINBw, underwater reconnaissance is an essential component of national and alliance defense. The drones now commissioned enable the presentation of a comprehensive underwater situation picture, which serves as a basis for decision-making at all levels. Using high-resolution sonars (Synthetic Aperture Sonar - SAS), the unarmed drones search the seabed for potentially dangerous objects at depths of up to 300 meters. They have three times the area search performance compared to a Class 332 minehunting boat without the use of drones.
The data collected is processed during the mission so that targeted measures can be initiated as quickly as possible with the sea mine countermeasures forces.
SeaCat is an autonomous underwater vehicle almost four meters long with a diameter of 576 mm. The operational weight of a maximum of 440 kg depends on the equipment with reconnaissance and communication devices as well as batteries. The operating time is ten hours with a standard battery and up to twenty hours with an additional battery at a cruising speed of around six km/h. The drone can be controlled wirelessly or via fiber optic cable.
The first drone is scheduled to be delivered in 2024. The agreed delivery date for another three is 2025.
Five Frankenthal-class minehunters are being prepared for SeaCat operations. For this purpose, the Peene shipyard provides the boats with the appropriate systems. For transport and storage, CHS Spezialcontainer supplies the containers for equipment by ATLAS Elektronik. The British ATLAS subsidiary supplies the sonar. The conversion of the boats will begin in 2024 and continue until 2026.
Of the 57 million euros budgeted for the project, seven million euros will flow out this year, financed from section 14. The remaining budget resources will be provided from the special fund. The BMVg expects follow-up costs to average around one million euros.
Editorial staff / gwh
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