RR tapped for UUV, USV technologies

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LONDON, June 28 (UPI) -- An effort to develop technologies to support unmanned surface and underwater vehicles is to be led by Rolls-Royce under a contract from Canada.

Rolls-Royce Naval Marine Inc., which has headquarters in the United States and is a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce of Britain, said the $3 million award from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency calls for automated systems for support of missions such as mine-countermeasures, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, coastal security patrols and environmental data collection.

Specifically, the company will design refueling systems and handling equipment that can deploy underwater sensors remotely from the unmanned vessels.

"Future naval and patrol vessels will increasingly use unmanned vehicles to carry out a variety of missions," said Jay McFadyen, president of Rolls-Royce Naval Marine Inc.

"We are delighted that ACOA is providing significant support to develop these capabilities in our Canadian facilities which are ideally situated close to many of our industrial, academic and governmental partners.

"This research program will enable us to develop sophisticated systems with significant market potential, and firmly establish this region of Canada as a center of excellence for these cutting edge technologies."

Rolls-Royce touted its expertise as a supplier of sensor handling and stowage systems for naval vessels. It said it would develop similar technology for USVs and UUVs under the Canadian contract.