Royal Navy accepts new autonomous mine hunting system into service

New systems – known collectively as SWEEP – have been accepted into service to combat the threat of naval mines and keep personnel away from danger.

An uncrewed surface vessel and sophisticated payloads make up the SWEEP system, which is controlled remotely on the surface to hunt and detonate mines quickly.

“The return of the ability to remotely counter sophisticated mines that are more difficult to detect by sonar, is a crucial milestone for the Royal Navy’s Mine Countermeasures capability,” said Commander Dan Herridge, Commanding Officer of the Royal Navy’s Mine & Threat Exploitation Group.

“To be able to do this remotely without putting people in harm’s way is a key tenet of the Mine Hunting Capability Programme. 

“The acceptance of SWEEP is an exciting milestone ahead of the Royal Navy conducting training, operational evaluation, and assurance of the systems prior to deployment.” 

SWEEP was developed and manufactured in the UK by Dorset-based TKMS Atlas UK Ltd (formerly Atlas Elektronik UK), as part of a £25m contract.

The SWEEP system’s innovative technology can defeat sophisticated modern digital sea mines which can detect and target ships and submarines passing nearby.  

SWEEP’s “sense and avoid” capability works together with other similar autonomous systems, such as the Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) system and SeaCat Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles, for the common goals of sustaining freedom of manoeuvre for Royal Navy vessels and making international waters safer.

Jonathan Reed-Beviere, Mine Hunting Capability Programme Director for the Royal Navy, said: “The Royal Navy receiving its first fully autonomous minesweeping system is truly transformational. The uncrewed system can replicate a ship’s signature, tricking sea mines into detonating safely.

“The portable, flexible system is vital to protecting ships from modern mine threats, operated remotely from land or sea, it will keep our sailors out of danger and will restore a minesweeping capability the Royal Navy has lacked since 2005.”

Andy Lapsley, Mine Hunting Capability Team Leader at DE&S, added: “These three SWEEP systems will help to ensure Royal Navy personnel can combat the evolving global threat of naval mines more effectively and more safely.

“The new technology, which will also help maintain the freedom of manoeuvre for UK ships and submarines when defending the UK at sea, is aligned with the aims of the Strategic Defence Review to increase utilisation of new autonomous equipment to support the Royal Navy to patrol the North Atlantic and beyond.”

"It's an incredibly proud moment to see these cutting-edge minesweeping systems enter service with the Royal Navy,” said Antoni Mazur, Managing Director of TKMS Atlas UK.

“We have worked with the MOD for decades to develop our minesweeping expertise and deliver this capability as a true, UK innovation, supporting highly skilled local jobs and the manufacturing base. We look forward to continuing to work with the RN and MHC team for the success of the transition to an autonomous MCM capability for the UK."