The UK’s Royal Navy has officially introduced a remotely operated minesweeping system into service. Designed to detect and neutralise advanced naval mines without risking personnel, the system is called SWEEP. Called SWEEP, the system was developed by TKMS Atlas UK Ltd under a £25 million contract. It comprises uncrewed surface vessels equipped with technology that can mimic ship signatures, tricking digital sea mines into detonating harmlessly. The introduction of SWEEP restores the Navy’s minesweeping capability, which has been absent since 2005. It will operate alongside other autonomous systems, such as the Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) programme and the SeaCat uncrewed underwater vehicle, all of which will contribute to the secure movement of vessels in international waters. SWEEP is portable and can be controlled from land or sea. Royal Navy officials describe SWEEP as a transformative advancement in maritime security. It aligns with the UK’s strategic goal of expanding the use of autonomous technology, particularly for patrolling key areas such as the North Atlantic. Training and evaluation are underway to prepare SWEEP for deployment. The technology enhances safety by keeping sailors out of danger zones while enabling effective countermeasures against increasingly sophisticated sea mines, and it restores the Royal Navy’s (RN) minesweeping capability, which has been absent since 2005.
Giorgio Lo Conte
