The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) 822X Squadron has begun conducting trials of the ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to assess its suitability for mine countermeasure (MCM) operations.
The trials are being conducted with a ScanEagle vehicle that has been equipped with a hyperspectral imaging payload, and are being done in conjunction with the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group.
The operations have been ongoing for about 12 months, and are being conducted around Point Perpendicular, near Jervis Bay.
“The purpose of the trials is to determine whether hyperspectral imaging analysis is a suitable detection technique to uncover mines that are located underwater,” said Lieutenant Scott Gidley, an operations officer from 822X Squadron.
