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Dawn of the GHOST BOATS: Remote-controlled drones that can reach a top speed of 44mph could help the Royal Navy carry out covert operations

Modified boat will ensure crews can carry out vital tasks such as high speed observations and remote surveillance while keeping sailors safe
The boat, which is capable of operating on its own for up to 12 hours on either a pre-planned route or via remote control, can reach 38 knots

Published: 09:12 EST, 15 October 2015 | Updated: 09:24 EST, 15 October 2015

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A new generation of naval boat 'drones' are being developed by British scientists.

BAE Systems has revealed a modified craft that will ensure crews can carry out vital tasks such as high-speed observations and remote surveillance while keeping sailors safe.

The boat, which is capable of operating on its own for up to 12 hours on either a pre-planned route or via remote control, can reach impressive speeds of up to 44mph (38 knots).

Phantom craft: BAE Systems has revealed a modified boat which will ensure crews can carry out vital tasks such as high speed observations and remote surveillance while keeping sailors safe

The technology, which is designed to be fitted to Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) and will have a complex array of sensors - including a navigation radar, 360 degree panoramic infrared camera and laser range finder - will offer operators a detailed picture of its surroundings within a significant range of the vessel.

Les Gregory, Product and Training Services Director at BAE Systems, said: 'This technology delivers an extremely robust and fast-moving unmanned boat that is able to perform a number of surveillance and reconnaissance roles, even when operating at high speed or in choppy water.

'BAE Systems has a wealth of experience in the development and integration of unmanned systems.

'The successful demonstration highlights the enhanced capability this technology offers.

Hi-tech: The boat, which is capable of operating on its own for up to 12 hours on either a pre-planned route or via remote control, can reach impressive speeds of up to 44mph (38 knots)

'While other programmes are primarily designed for larger, slower boats to tackle mine counter-measure scenarios, this system provides an extremely manoeuvrable multi-role vessel.'

The unmanned system and software algorithms controlling the boat were provided by Portchester-based unmanned and autonomous specialist, ASV (Autonomous Surface Vehicles).

BAE Systems has been working closely with ASV to integrate the technology and prove the concept through the demonstrator.

The next stage in its development is to create the sensor suite before ensuring a seamless integration with the combat management system on the parent ship.

Dan Hook, Managing Director for ASV said: 'The algorithms we're developing with BAE Systems allow the boat to perform complex missions and navigate through waters avoiding collisions.

Cruising: The technology, which is designed to be fitted to Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) and will have a complex array of sensors, including a navigation radar, 360 degree panoramic infrared camera and laser range finder which offer operators a detailed picture within a significant range of the vessel

'VAMPIRE' DRONES THAT DISAPPEAR IN SUNLIGHT

Drones can drop supplies to hidden Special Forces or essential medical kit in warzones, but there’s the risk that their presence may give away the recipient’s location, or that the technology ends up in enemy hands.

To solve this problem, the Pentagon is calling for designs for ‘vampire’ drones that disappear in daylight.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) is funding a new project to develop aircraft that can ‘fully vanish within four hours of payload delivery or within 30 minutes of morning civil twilight (assuming a night drop), whichever is earlier’.

The Pentagon is calling for designs for ‘vampire’ drones that disappear in daylight. A stock illustration of a drone is shown. Darpa is funding a new project to develop aircraft that can ‘fully vanish within four hours of payload delivery or within 30 minutes of morning civil twilight (assuming a night drop), whichever is earlier’

The project is called Inbound, Controlled, Air-Releasable, Unrecoverable Systems (Icarus), after the boy in the Greek myth whose feather and wax wings melted when he flew too close to the sun.

However, the drones are intended to deliberately make one-way trips only.

The project will run for 26 months and receive up to $8million in funding.

Darpa says it seeks ‘proposals for the design and prototyping of vanishing air delivery vehicles capable of precise, gentle drops of small payloads.

‘These precision vehicles must be guaranteed to rapidly physically disappear following safe payload delivery.’

The aim is to come up with a drone that can drop deliveries to personnel in hard-to-reach regions without it needing clearing away and hiding, which can be time consuming.

It must be able to travel 93 miles (150km) and able to drop a package weighing less than three lbs ( 1.4kg) onto a target measuring no more than 33 feet (10 metres).

Empty: BAE Systems has been working closely with ASV to integrate the technology and prove the concept through the demonstrator. The next stage in its development is to create the sensor suite before ensuring a seamless integration with the combat management system on the parent ship

'This gives it the flexibility and sophistication to operate in a number of different tactical roles, whether it's patrolling areas of interest, providing surveillance and reconnaissance ahead of manned missions, or protecting larger ships in the fleet.'

The RIBs will be able to operated up to 40km (25 miles) away from their parent ship and can even be controlled by crew on land via a hand-held controller.

The technology is designed as a retrofit to the manned Pacific 24 RIB already deployed across the Royal Navy's Type 23 Frigates and Type 45 Destroyers.

These boats will also go on to the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers once they enter service. BAE Systems provides cutting-edge avionics systems and advanced cockpit technologies for both military and commercial aviation platforms.

The company's vast industry experience, solid partner commitment and world-class solutions are relied upon by leading aerospace companies around the globe.

US NAVY 'STAR WARS' WEAPON CAN FIRE MISSILES AT THREE TIMES THE SPEED OF SOUND

A radical new weapon that can fire a shell at mach three and use existing warship guns is believed developed by the US Navy.

The new guided rounds were originally designed as part of the Navy's railgun project, which will fire them at mach 5 - but is not expected to be available until 2025.

However, Navy bosses now believe they can adapt the projectiles to be fired through normal guns - albeit at a slower Mach 3 speed.

The hyper velocity projectile uses speed rather than explosives to destroy its target and comes equipped with the menacing Latin motto 'I, who am speed, eradicate'

Naval Sea Systems Command are now in early testing phases of using the planned hyper velocity projectile (HVPs) with the service's existing gunpowder-based deck guns found on almost every U.S. Navy surface ship, NAVSEA told USNI News.

The new projectiles will be more than double the speed of an unguided regular shell from the service's Mk 45 five-inch gun found on its guided missile cruisers and destroyers, according to information from NAVSEA.

Navy bosses hope that by using existing guns, they can bring the weapons online far sooner.

According to NAVSEA, the service is also investigating using HVP in larger guns than the MK 45.

'The round is being designed to be compatible with multiple guns in the U.S. inventory,' read the NAVSEA statement to USNI News.

Both BAE Systems and General Atomics have worked with the service on railgun and projectile technology, though NAVSEA did not specify any companies working on the effort.

'This is a government-led effort, and we are working to involve a number of different defense contractors at this stage,' NAVSEA said.

A BAE Systems designed railgun will undergo a first round of at-sea testing next year.

Warships can carry dozens of conventional missiles, which cost around £600,000 each, but could be loaded with hundreds of railgun projectiles, at only £15,000 each.

The projectiles, Hyper Velocity Projectiles, are also under development by BAE.