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Industry stakeholders have demonstrated autonomous capability before Navy personnel as part of a new program exploring platform modernisation.
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A new ‘Autonomous Warrior’ (AW) series has been set up to explore new technologies designed to enhance naval capability.
The inaugural 2021 ‘AW Discovery’ event was attended by 15 industry groups, which demonstrated and trialled emerging robotics, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence (RAS-AI) technologies at a virtual conference, hosted by Warfare Innovation Navy.
“The pace of change is increasing and we need to think differently to maintain our competitive edge to defend Australia from sophisticated and rapidly evolving threats,” Staff Officer Autonomous Warrior, Lieutenant Commander Bryan Cromie, said.
“Through AW, we gain a better picture of how RAS-AI systems integrate into our fleet to create a next-generation fighting Navy.
“We’re taking a closer look at remotely piloted and autonomous air, surface and underwater vehicles, automated launch and recovery systems, and sensor technologies with applications in all war-fighting domains.”
Director General, Warfare Innovation Navy, Captain Adam Allica, said the series would help foster co-operation between Navy and defence industry.
“Australia’s defence industry is world-class. We need to tap into this specialist expertise to identify technologies that can be incorporated into real operations today to optimise our fleet now and into the future,” he said.
“Our goal is to give our people tools and technologies that will keep them safe, help them make faster and better decisions, and complete missions impossible for humans alone.”
The 2021 series of events involves discovery workshops, scientific trials, industry demonstrations and live operations, forming part of the Navy’s broader RAS-AI Strategy 2040.
[Related: Austal wins $57m US Navy contract]
Charbel Kadib
News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media
Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.
