Greyshark AUV with a range of 1,850 miles can detect mines and conduct reconnaissance

A Germany-based company has unveiled a new autonomous vehicle for underwater exploration and surveillance.

The underwater vehicle, developed by Euroatlas, combines extensive advanced sensors and fully autonomous behavior over long distances.

The vehicle, named ‘Greyshark’, expands sensor coverage through swarm capabilities.

Euroatlas claims that these ships can patrol and protect a critical maritime area. The system can be placed passively on the seabed and activated during critical events.

Encrypted underwater communications

Greyshark also reports all identified targets during operation through encrypted underwater communications with other Greyshark, own ships and, if applicable, with situational awareness systems, the company said.

The vehicle can also deter enemy reconnaissance with a swarm of Greyshark searching in parallel among active sensors. Euroatlas emphasized that the Greyshark will actively search for specific ship classes, report in real time and track them.

“Patrol and protect a critical sea area with single or multiple Greysharks. Let them passively maintain their position on the seabed and activate them during critical events, for example the identification of a specific ship. Define smart behavior for your Greyshark. Let them approach targets under active sensors, or quietly withdraw and report,” the spokesperson said Euroatlas.

Greyshark can be integrated into standard situational awareness systems

The company claims that every Greyshark integrates seamlessly with standard situational awareness systems. The vehicle operates at a standard cruising speed of 10 knots and has a minimum operational range of 1000 nautical miles. It is equipped with a high-precision navigation system, which guarantees coverage over the entire operational range while underwater.

A comprehensive system is offered for transport, deployment, refueling, maintenance and operation of the vehicle.

Using its active sensors (sonar, LIDAR, camera, electromagnetic), the vehicle can identify mines. The vehicle has a silent electric propulsion system, a non-metallic, unpressurized hull construction and a very low native sonar signature.

Greyshark to monitor known underwater structures, harbors and cables

“Use Greyshark to monitor known underwater structures, ports, cables and pipelines. Track security risks with a sensor fusion of LIDAR, camera, sonar and electromagnetic sensors. Powerful change detection algorithms speed up regular patrols,” said Euroatlas.

Greyshark will monitor the infrastructure and provide more data than traditional sensors. There is no need for a surface ship to deploy underwater AUVs for inspection. According to the company, the results can be communicated immediately during deployment and after return.

AUV can be used for various tasks

In a conversation with Jansen at Euronaval, Eugen Ciemnyjewski, Managing Director of Euroatlas, and Stefan Spindler, Sales Engineer/Key Account Manager at Euroatlas, said the new AUV can be used for a variety of tasks, including Critical Underwater Infrastructure (CUI) protection, patrolling and mining. warfare.

The AUV can be used in the CUI protection role to detect faults in civil infrastructure, such as pipes and cables. Greyshark can also be used to detect enemy ships and can patrol the sea or harbor in a set pattern. The AUV can be launched from a port or a larger surface ship and can operate in a swarm of up to six AUVs, reported Jansen.