Elbit Systems Seagull USV

Overview:

The Seagull USV ^[1]Elbit Systems, Seagull USV, https://elbitsystems.com/product/seagull-usv/ is manufactured by Elbit Systems, ‘to meet the maritime warfare mission requirements of naval forces worldwide.’ ^[2]Naval Technology, Seagull Unmanned Surface Vessel, … Continue reading

The vessel, which made its debut at the 2016 Singapore Airshow, can carry out mine countermeasures (MCM), which include the detection, classification, localization, recognition, and neutralization of seabed, tethered, and floating naval mines. It can also be used for hydrography, maritime security, electronic warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and ISR missions. During MCM operations in the Mediterranean Sea in March 2016, Elbit successfully showed the MCM capabilities of a Seagull USV combined with Klein 5900 multi-beam mine hunting side-scan sonar.

Autonomy:

There have been instances of it being tested out with modules for change detection and automatic target detection. ^[3]Elbit Systems, ‘Seagull, Elibit Systems’ multi-mission Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV system) demonstrated unique operational capabilities in the Belgian North Sea MCM trials’, … Continue reading

Further, ‘a 360-degrees Panoramic Video System with an Automatic Target Recognition capability and a patented Automatic Navigation System’  were incorporated into the modules as features that improve safety and autonomy.^[4]Elbit Systems, ‘New vision and analysis capability improves autonomy and safety of Elbit Systems’ Seagull USV’, … Continue reading

Speaking to a journalist from Wired in 2022, Amir Alon, a senior director with Elbit Systems, said that the Seagull USV “can engage autonomously, but we don’t recommend it”, because “We don’t want to start World War III.”^[5]Wired, ‘The AI-powered, totally autonomous future of war is here’, https://www.wired.com/story/ai-powered-totally-autonomous-future-of-war-is-here/

Other:

Diver’s neutralisation system, remotely-operated vehicle (ROV), as well as electronic support measures (ESM) and electronic countermeasures (ECM) systems. Modular mission payload systems including navigation, sailing and safety suite, electro-optical (EO) / infrared (IR) sensors, side-scan sonar or synthetic aperture sonar (SAS), forward-looking sonar or multibeam echo sounder, diver detection sonar, and dipping sonar.