Lockheed Martin has unveiled an autonomous undersea drone that can hitch a ride on the surface of larger vessels to maximise efficiency.
The Lamprey Multi‑Mission Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (MMAUV) is designed to perform a wide range of missions, including surveillance and reconnaissance or deploying equipment to the seafloor. It can also be equipped to launch anti‑submarine torpedoes in active conflicts.
The rectangular craft is able to attach itself to the hull of larger sea vessels using either a docking mechanism or suction cups, allowing it to conserve energy. While attached it can use built-in hydrogenators – effectively mini generators – to recharge its battery, so it can reach its intended target completely charged and be deployed for the maximum amount of time possible, Lockheed Martin said. This is especially useful for data reconnaissance, with operators able to deploy a suite of Lampreys on the seabed to wait for a target or gather intelligence over an extended period.
The...