Scenario 2 – Interception of a Mine Laying Vessel before an Amphibious Operation

Scenario 2 involves covert and overt tracking of a suspect vessel using unmanned vehicles, use of UAV to support a boarding action, use of UUV to search and localize mines on the seabed.

Videos and tracks generated by all unmanned systems are visualised in real time at the MOCs and onboard the different ships of the Task Group (not only the ship controlling each system).

• Starting situation

A “Union” of countries considers intervening by amphibious landing in a country experiencing a crisis situation with different factions in conflict.

At the beginning, the Task Group is deployed near the selected AOA (Amphibious Operation Area), within shaping operations for the possible amphibious landing.

Change detection maps and optical satellite images, combined with simulated intelligence data, indicate the presence of a suspect Fishing Vessel (FV), in a nearby port (controlled by an unfriendly faction) believed to be a disguised mine-laying vessel.

• Phase 1 - Suspect vessel leaves the harbour and is detected by USS and UAS

While performing a surveillance flight in the gulf, the BK180-ISP OPV (is tasked to to provide video of the port area where the suspect FV was moored on the latest satellite images, while the Limnos and Santa Maria frigates are tasked to perform surveillance around the harbour with their USV and UAV in pre-defined areas.

The video from BK180-ISP flying over the port shows that the suspect FV is no longer present at the reported mooring position.

SEARIDER USV and PELICANO UAV detect the vessel while leaving the port bay, then also USV SEAD-23 that follows the FV as it moves along the coast towards the AOA.

• Phase 2 - Covert localisation and tracking with UAV

The Fasan frigate is tasked to provide covert localisation and tracking of the FV using AW HERO UAV, while SW-4 SOLO UAV is used by the Martinengo frigate to perform a visual survey (with EO camera) of the selected landing area.

SEAD-23 stops following the FV when it is detected by the AW HERO.

When the FV is approaching the sea area facing the selected landing area, SW-4 SOLO is re-tasked to follow the FV by close visual tracking.

• Phase 3 - Mines released by the suspect vessel

Mines drop from the FV (simulated by dropping empty barrels tied with a rope, recovered shortly after) is displayed on SW-4 SOLO EO video. When the FV realises being observed, it stops dropping mines and starts moving towards the open sea.

• Phase 4 - Boarding operation with UAV support

Then the Martinengo frigate executes a RHIB boarding action to take control of the vessel, with support of the organic NH90 helicopter (in sniper role) and  the UAV SW-4 SOLO. The close-up video of the target vessel from SW-4 SOLO point of view is shared in live streaming with the NH90 crew and the boarding team on the RHIB.

• Phase 5 - Mines localisation and identification with UUV

The Var BCR (playing the role of a mine-hunting vessel) is tasked to detect  the mines dropped in the area using the A9 AUV and SEASCAN ROV, the latter deployed by the INSPECTOR USV (filled barrels were dropped in the area before the trial, to simulate mines on the seabed). The mines (barrels) are locatedon the seabed and shown in live video streaming from the SEASCAN ROV.