Africa: US military tests autonomous maritime drone to combat piracy
The US Navy is testing the autonomous underwater and surface vehicle (AUSV) Triton in the waters of West Africa as part of the multinational naval exercise Obangame Express. It is intended to help African countries get a grip on the problem of pirates, illegal drug trafficking and other legal violations that are prevalent there. The focus of operations is on the Gulf of Guinea. The exercise runs until May 17.
The Triton drone, developed and manufactured by US defense company Ocean Aero based in Gulfport, Mississippi, is around 4.4 m long, 0.8 m wide and weighs 350 kg Company writes in a document (PDF) . It is the world's first and only surface and underwater drone that is able to operate permanently underwater and on the water surface. The electrically powered Triton is equipped with solar cells on the hull surface and a fold-out fixed sail, to which solar modules with a total output of 740 W are also attached.
The solar panels are intended to provide enough energy to charge the drone's 13.2 kWh battery in order to power the motors underwater. The electric drive can also be used over water. It is supported by a fixed sail that can be folded out when operating above water and thus powers the drone with wind. Ocean Aero promises that the Triton can operate for five days underwater and more than 14 days above water. On the surface of the water it should achieve a maximum speed of 5 knots, around 9.3 km/h, and under water it is 2 knots.