NAVAL OPERATIONS BEYOND MINE COUNTERMEASURES HYDROGRAPHIC AND PATROL CAPABILITY (MHPC)

UDT Presentation by Captain David Pollock Royal Navy 29 May 2012

Autonomy the future of naval warfare

SCOPE
Introduction to RN MCM Hydrographic and Patrol Capability (MHPC) Sensors
Technology shortfalls

Effectors
Philosophical and Technological shortfalls

Command and Control

Autonomy the future of naval warfare

MHPC
Replace several classes of ship with offboard sensors and effectors deployed from non specialist platforms Predicated on gathering and exploiting Military data for
Improved Situational Awareness Better decision making Operational Advantage Influencing events above the high water mark

Autonomy the future of naval warfare

SENSORS
Gather data for multiple uses
Use of interferometric processing of side scan sonar to provide contact data for MCM and bathymetry for charting

Obtain maximum benefit from every ping Energy

Batteries AIP Novel

Autonomy the future of naval warfare

LARGE DIAMETER UUV

Endurance/On Station Time (hours) Payload (cu-ft) 100-400 (90 days loiter) ~30 + external stores

Speed (knots)
Nominal Displacement (lbs) In-Air Mast Payload (lbs)

2-7 (12 for ASW)

20,000

~100

Operating Depth TBD

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DATA PROCESSING
Centralised or Distributed?
Data Volume vs bandwidth Urgency of need for information Trust and Assurance

The advantage of unpredictability

Autonomy and doctrine How far can we trust automatic target recognition?
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MANTA MINE

Autonomy the future of naval warfare

SENSOR CHALLENGES
Energy storage /consumption Autonomous data processing Accurate position in time and space

Autonomy the future of naval warfare

SENSOR
Contribution to the network
Assured 3D location and time essential to enable exploitation of a common picture Safeguarding data security

Autonomy the future of naval warfare

EFFECTORS
Targeting
Sea Mines (predetermined firing algorithm) Automated self defensive weapons (target motion) Fire and Forget (attacks within pre-designated area)

Autonomy the future of naval warfare

EFFECTORS
Legal if:
Adequate discrimination to prevent non combatant death

Autonomous targeting is not of itself un-lawful

but it raises many questions to be tested!

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EFFECTORS
Non Kinetic Utility Deceptive techniques to confuse and disrupt

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NETWORKS

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COMMAND AND CONTROL

Potential for sensors to operate well beyond the location of the delivering platform Remote Control via satellite link The future role of mission command Impact on the moral component

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1810 - 1860

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1860 - 1910

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THE 20th CENTURY

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CONCLUSIONS
The challenge for sensors and effectors
Energy reserves Networks and bandwidth

Soft Challenges
Trust Autonomy Command and Control Accountability
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