Defence/aerospace firm QinetiQ is working with US ONR (the United States Office of Naval Research) to bring advanced new marine security technology to the world's waters.
The result of their collaboration, the Blackfish, is an unmanned jet-ski design intended as a search and patrol vehicle, inspecting harbours before scanning below the waves for unwelcome visitors, including potential terrorists. It features a gallery of sensors, providing excellent visibility below the surface, while it can operate at a wide range of speeds, allowing slow-paced tracking or high-octane pursuits at up to 40 miles per hour, as required.
Since the 2000 USS Cole attack, maritime security issues have been a chief concern. The attack saw protagonists strike the US Navy destroyer, killing 17 personnel and injuring almost 40 more.
The QinetiQ Blackfish unmanned jet-ski is envisaged as a future US Navy protection platform, monitoring the areas around docked ships. It can be remotely-operated, in real-time, by controllers positioned within a range of up to one kilometre or pre-programmed ahead of time to carry out specific missions.
The Blackfish was created out of the shell of a standard, 10 foot long jet-ski and modified through the addition of sophisticated sensors, sonar and radar and it's possible that derivative versions will add a weapons capability into the mix, too.
"In both domestic and foreign ports, there's great concern about swimmers approaching the boats underwater", QinetiQ North America's maritime and transportation senior vice president, Mark Hewitt, was quoted as having said by Discovery News, adding: "The Navy has been working on the problem for some time".
"It's a jet ski, it goes fast", Hewitt continued. "Human swimmers only go two knots. We solved the problem by adding bow thrusters, so you can turn off the main propulsion and track at low speeds."
Off the back of recent Blackfish trials, QinetiQ North America now anticipates being given the go-ahead to take its basic maritime security technology further.
"There are numerous features and capabilities that could be developed for future unmanned maritime vehicles", Jennifer Pickett, the firm's Communications Director, told Gizmag, adding: "QinetiQ North America is interested in developing a more advanced prototype."
Unmanned vehicle technologies are becoming a significant part of modern-day security operations. Also used by the military, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are being increasingly-tasked with other missions, including border control.
More information on the Blackfish programme as we receive it.
Image copyright QinetiQ North America
See also:
Companies supplying Surveillance
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