Israel Aerospace unveils unmanned submarine

Israel Aerospace Industries IAI has unveiled the BlueWhale Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle. The unmanned submarine has already racked up thousands of hours of autonomous operation, including intelligence gathering of both sea and coastal targets, acoustic intelligence, and identification of the presence of sea mines. An autonomous submarine can perform a significant portion of manned submarine operations, for periods of several weeks, with minimal cost and maintenance, without the need for operators on board.

Like manned submarines, BlueWhale collects covert intelligence above the sea, can detect submarines and underwater targets and collect acoustic information, as well as search and detect marine mines on the sea floor.

IAI reported that the BlueWhale is equipped with a telescopic mast, like a manned submarine’s periscope, several meters high, on which radar and optoelectronic systems are mounted to detect marine and coastal targets. Using a satellite communications antenna on the mast, the data collected can be transmitted in real time to command posts, anywhere in the world, at sea or on land. Submarine detection data and acoustic intelligence gathering is enabled using sonar, several tens of meters long, towed by BlueWhale, and by its own array sonar with receiver arrays attached to both sides of the platform.

Mine detection is also carried out using a dedicated synthetic aperture sonar, which is installed on the sides of the vessel. BlueWhale has an array of sensors to help ensure its safe passage underwater or near the surface. In recent years, a number of international patents have been registered regarding the development of the system.

Yoav Tourgeman, Executive Vice President of IAI and CEO of ELTA, said, “BlueWhale joins the family of unmanned land, sea and space platforms, developed by IAI, and represents a force multiplier for submarine fleets. Building on its advanced engineering capabilities, IAI’s Elta Group company has the first Once the world has managed to achieve maturity in the development and production of an autonomous underwater system capable of performing a wide range of tasks. BlueWhale is an important member of the IAI family of marine products, which includes solutions for use in economic exclusion zones, tools for autonomous ship management and their integration into maritime yard surveillance. .

Published by Globes, Israel business news – en.globes.co.il – on May 4, 2023.

© Copyright Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd., 2023.