16/06/23: Navy tests drone boat to rescue pilot at sea in Baltic exercise
- Yannis Kaplanidis
- 15 Ιουν 2023
- διαβάστηκε 2 λεπτά
Έγινε ενημέρωση: 4 Μαρ
The U.S. Navy in Europe is experimenting with using ready-made, inexpensive unmanned boats to help rescue sailors, a method officials say will limit the risk inherent in many search-and-rescue operations at sea.
More information: https://www.esc.guide/martac
A commercial, remote-controlled speedboat was used to test the rescue of a pilot at sea for the first time as a part of the annual U.S.-led international sea exercise BALTOPS, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet said in a statement Wednesday.
The two-week exercise, which included the U.S., Britain, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Turkey and 13 other countries, ended Friday.
Using an unmanned surface vehicle, or drone boat, would allow the fleet to act quickly while eliminating the need to put more people and assets in harm’s way, especially in poor weather conditions or during combat, Joe Klein, the personnel recovery program manager for NAVEUR-AF, said in the statement.
"The military in general is working on building a capability to recover aviators who go down in high-threat areas, where we’ve been denied access … the (unmanned surface vehicle) is a possible solution to that dilemma,” Klein said.
In adverse conditions, a failed rescue operation can compound a tragedy. For example, seven Romanian service members on a search and rescue mission for a downed pilot were killed in March 2022 when their helicopter crashed near the Black Sea.
The drone boat also could be used in other scenarios, such as rescuing an overboard sailor, according to its Florida-based manufacturer, MARTAC Systems.
Drones are still far from replacing highly trained search and rescue teams in many situations.
"The military in general is working on building a capability to recover aviators who go down in high-threat areas, where we’ve been denied access … the (unmanned surface vehicle) is a possible solution to that dilemma,” Klein said.
In adverse conditions, a failed rescue operation can compound a tragedy. For example, seven Romanian service members on a search and rescue mission for a downed pilot were killed in March 2022 when their helicopter crashed near the Black Sea.
The drone boat also could be used in other scenarios, such as rescuing an overboard sailor, according to its Florida-based manufacturer, MARTAC Systems.
Drones are still far from replacing highly trained search and rescue teams in many situations.
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