Royal Navy Tests Unmanned Systems At REPMUS

A range of drones and uncrewed vessels are deployed on a major international exercise in Portugal as the Royal Navy looks to push its latest technology to its limits.
An armed autonomous Pacific 24 RHIB, hand-launched mini quadcopters, uncrewed surface vessels and surveillance drones will join specially-designed shipping containers, known as PODS, and experimentation vessel XV Patrick Blackett for NATO’s annual uncrewed wargames.

More than 200 UK personnel from the Royal Navy, Ministry of Defence and defence industry along with US personnel are working with 25 other nations for the exercise, known as REPMUS, in Troia, southern Portugal.

Co-hosted by the Portuguese, it focuses on cutting-edge uncrewed systems and looks to take technology from test phases to integration into operations and task groups. Australian personnel will participate virtually.

XV Patrick Blackett is acting as a test bed for elements of the trials and testing and will embark a range of technologies – building on its successes during last year’s exercise.

The Royal Navy is also testing uncrewed aerial vehicle Peregrine; surveillance drones Puma and Ebee Vision; uncrewed aerial systems Rotron and a remote-piloted seaboat.

To read more, visit Royal Navy's website.