French shipyard CMN has been showcasing the abilities of one of its autonomous uncrewed surface vessel (USV) patrol boats, the UHSI32 MkII, to the French Navy.
The Cherbourg-based shipyard, whose full name is Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie, last week staged an at-sea demonstration.
It was watched by representatives from the French Navy, along with other observers including representatives from fellow CMN Naval Group firm German Naval Yards and independent naval consultants MTG Marinetechnik.
As per a social media post, the exercise demonstrated the 32-metre vessel navigating and avoiding obstacles, and intercepting and escorting a moving target vessel using its integrated Anschuetz Autonomous Navigation and Command System.
The USV is based on CMN’s manned HSI32 platform; it can be operated from a land- or ship-based Remote Control Centre and can remotely deploy surveillance sensors.
The aluminium-hulled USV has a maximum speed of over 46 knots and a 1,200-nautical-mile range at 12 knots; it can be equipped with line-of-sight or beyond-line-of-sight communications.
- You can read more details about the USV on the CMN Naval website and the Anschuetz website