The French Directorate Common of Armaments (DGA, Course générale de l’armement) notified the Norwegian producer Kongsberg Maritime of a contract for the implementation by the French Navy of the Autonomous Unmanned Automobile (AUV) HUGIN Superior which might function as much as 6,000 metres deep. As a part of this technique, in October 2022 the French Navy performed a primary marketing campaign to implement an exploratory capability for ‘deep sea’ underwater drones. This contract, notified on August 12, 2022 and for a most quantity of round 4 million Euros, consists of a number of journeys to the ocean. It’s a part of the exploratory capability of the ministerial technique for controlling funds sailors.
The DGA Naval Strategies centre of experience and testing was concerned within the specification of the requirement and also will take part within the suggestions from these missions with a view to the long run specification of the implies that will likely be developed for the wants of the French Navy. The target sought to have autonomous submarine techniques able to working in nice depths. This primary marketing campaign consisted of a deployment of the hydrographic and oceanographic ship Beautemps-Beaupré from Brest, with the car HUGIN Superior. With these campaigns, the DGA and the French Navy will be capable of refine after which outline their idea of employment.
Commercial
Developed based mostly on the prevailing HUGIN expertise platform, the HUGIN Superior underwater car is a hydrodynamic form. It has a size of roughly 6.6m and weighs 2,200kg. Launched in December 2018, the HUGIN Superior system offers enhanced information, positioning and endurance capabilities in varied defence functions reminiscent of underwater survey, covert speedy setting evaluation (REA), and mine countermeasures (MCM). The AUV is saved and shipped in a DNV 2.7-1-certified offshore container, whereas its launch and restoration is carried out utilizing a single-stage stinger.
The AUVs below HUGIN household can be found in working depth scores of 1,000m, 3,000m, 4,500m, and 6,000m. The automobiles may be configured with completely different payload sensors for numerous functions. The HUGIN platform was developed by a partnership between KONGSBERG, Statoil, Norwegian Defence Analysis Institution (FFI) and Norsk Undervannsintervensjon (NUI). It was chosen by the Royal Norwegian Navy, Indonesian Navy, Polish Navy, and numerous survey suppliers. HUGIN Superior AUV is supplied with a HISAS 1032 dual-receiver artificial aperture sonar (SAS), which produces 1,000m swath at 2.5kt for high-resolution SAS imagery of roughly 5cm x 5cm.
