ECA Group has announced that it has developed UMIS Containerised, an integrated stand-alone mine counter-measures (MCM) solution, consisting of multiple unmanned vehicles, that is easily transported and deployed.
ECA GROUP’s UMIS (Unmanned MCM Integrated System) is a modular and compact comprehensive system of robotic platforms, configurable according to the mission. It is composed of unmanned surface vessels (USVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), along with their autonomous systems (LARS – Launch And Recovery Systems) and the UMISOFT command and control (C2) software suite, which makes this system totally integrated and autonomous for standoff mine warfare.
Operators are kept safe while controlling a situation from a distance via radio communication and receiving information or data gathered by the USVs, AUVs and ROVs. The system configuration can be chosen according to the mission, the environment and other constraints, and deployed to work autonomously or to be remotely operated on the battlefield. Crucial decisions (neutralizing the mines) are ultimately made by the operator.
Each autonomous or remotely operated unit integrates an embedded UMISOFT module, which is linked to the main supervision core located in the control consoles of the operation center onboard the mother ship or ashore.
UMIS Containerised is a flexible and stand-alone unmanned solution. To meet navies’ requirements and their logistic constraints, ECA GROUP designed specific storage and transportation equipment for each possible configuration. The containerized facility can be deployed in coastal areas, canals, ports and harbor entrances.
A typical UMIS Containerised configuration can be made from a dedicated C2 container and further smaller dedicated containers for the unmanned systems. The C2 container will be deployed on land or on a non-dedicated ship (COOP or NATO), while the vehicles will be able to be deployed from beaches, river banks, port docks and other locations.
The main functions of the C2 are to operate the unmanned vehicles (such as the USV INSPECTOR 125, mid-size AUV A18-M, towed sonar T18-M, MIDS (Mine Identification and Destruction System) consisting of inspection ROV SEASCAN and mine-killer K-STER, and man-portable AUV A9-M).
The complete UMIS Containerised configuration is air-transportable and can be deployed very quickly anywhere in the world. It is fully compliant with safety and transportation protocols.
