Kraken Robotics recently participated in Exercise REPMUS 23, a maritime unmanned systems exercise focused on capability development and interoperability. The exercise involved 15 NATO partners, as well as Sweden and Ireland. Kraken’s field support team worked closely with three NATO navy teams, utilizing three generations of HII’s REMUS unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) retrofitted with Kraken’s Man-Portable Synthetic Aperture Sonar (MP-SAS).
Kraken’s MP-SAS provided ultra-high resolution real-time 3 cm x 3 cm imagery with swaths of over 200 meters, significantly increasing area coverage rate compared to legacy sidescan sonars. The MP-SAS was used on various UUV platforms, showcasing its versatility and capability for use across multiple platforms.
During the exercise, Kraken also participated in a historic multi-national collaborative underwater vehicle mission. The US Navy MK 18 Mod 2 conducted a Search-Classify-Map (SCM) mission using SeeByte’s Neptune autonomous software, which identified contacts of interest. The Royal Navy REMUS 100 and the Netherlands Navy REMUS 100 were then re-tasked with Kraken SAS to perform Reacquire and Identification (RI) missions.
Exercise REPMUS 23 was co-organized by the NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE), the University of Porto’s Laboratory for Underwater Systems and Technology (LSTS), and NATO’s Maritime Unmanned Systems Initiative (MUSI). It brought together 15 NATO nations, along with partners Ireland and Sweden, to advance technology advancements, operational concepts, doctrine, and future work programs.
Kraken’s Man-Portable Synthetic Aperture Sonar (MP-SAS) is a modular, off-the-shelf, configurable system that provides high-resolution imaging at long ranges. It has been integrated and deployed on over 20 different underwater vehicle platforms, from shallow water to full ocean depth. This versatility allows military customers to streamline their post-mission analysis by using the same sonar resolution and performance across their entire fleet of vehicles.
In addition to its military applications, Kraken’s SAS has gained recognition in the unmanned underwater vehicle industry. Several UUV companies including HII, Elta Systems, and Hanwha have integrated Kraken SAS into their vehicles, expanding the capabilities of naval, scientific, and commercial applications.
Overall, Kraken Robotics’ participation in Exercise REPMUS 23 showcased the capabilities of their Man-Portable Synthetic Aperture Sonar and its versatility for use in various underwater platforms and missions.
Sources:
– Globe Newswire: Kraken Robotics Inc. Announces Participation at Exercise REPMUS 23 in Portugal
– Globe Newswire: Kraken MP-SAS showcased on Royal Netherlands Navy REMUS 100 during NATO Exercise, REPMUS 23