Australian companies Mission Systems and Solutions from Silicon have met with international mine countermeasures leaders during the 16th International Mine Warfare Technology Symposium, held in San Diego, California.
During the event, Dr David Battle, co-founder of Mission Systems and Mr Russell Norman, Technical Director of Solutions from Silicon met with Exail's MCM product line Director Daniel Scourzic. The three companies previously partnered on the cancelled Project Sea 1905 effort.
"Should grey-zone tactics escalate to open hostilities to our north, [Australia's] flyaway [Autonomous Underwater Vehicle] teams will be limited to near-shore and port clearance operations while the shallow seas through which much of our trade passes could easily be rendered impassable by a few well-placed minefields," said Dr Battle.
"This means that the RAN would quickly need to innovate, to fill a capability gap in a highly specialised area," he added.
Mission Systems and Solutions from Silicon view the prospect of offshore minefields as both a threat to the country and an opportunity for innovation, particularly in partnership with Exail.
“Our relationship with Exail, one of the world’s leading producers of robotic MCM technology, means that we can contribute genuine sovereign technologies to existing sea-proven capability,” Dr Battle said.
The objectives of the International Mine Warfare Technology Symposium are to conduct education, training and information-sharing activities to increase awareness and understanding among the public and within United States, allied and partner nation armed forces about the military arts of Mine Warfare and the operational impacts of sea and littoral land mine employment before, during and after hostilities.