Automated Mine Neutralization Vehicle

Present mine neutralization vehicles like the AN/SLQ-48 and the AN/ASQ-232 are delivered by much larger manned vehicles into close proximity to the mine. This permits the mine neutralization mechanism itself to be much smaller and less expensive. An unmanned delivery vehicle, the Mine Neutralization Delivery UUV (MNDUUV), for several small automated mine neutralization vehicles is proposed. Such a delivery UUV would permit the neutralization vehicle itself to meet the size (5" to 6" diameter) and cost ($10k to $25k) objectives by moving expensive navigation and transit propulsion capabilities into the delivery vehicle. The MNDUUV is proposed as a reusable UUV that is launched and recovered from a ship. One of the key attributes of the MNDUUV will be its ability to dock with a ship-deployed recovery mechanism. The initial phase of this proposal will focus on the design of UUV and docking drogue functions required to support the critical docking operation.