Groton based submarine launches undersea drone in a 1st for US Navy

The U.S. Navy’s USS North Dakota submarine worked alongside three other Virginia-class submarines to deploy and retrieve unmanned underwater vehicles during a six-week tour in the Mediterranean Sea. It is equipped with video cameras, Global Positioning System devices and sonar technology, the Daily Mail learned.

The attack submarine USS North Dakota returned to its base in Groton, Connecticut, on Monday following a almost two-month deployment.

Image: USS North Dakota during trials.

USS North Dakota commanding officer captain Douglas Gordon was quoted by Associated Press as saying: “We can do a dual mission”.

Navy Capt. Carl Hartsfield, a program manager for undersea capabilities, said the feat reflects the Navy’s commitment to integrating unmanned vehicles.

Capt. Jim Waters, commander of Submarine Squadron 4, added that the mission also worked to demonstrate the use of UUVs in Submarine Force operations.

“The drone deployed by the USS North Dakota can be configured to carry various payloads”.

(Photo: Twitter Photo Section) The undersea drone Remus 600 is made by Hydroid. The drone, however, is expected to perform a different role as it can be used as a weapon against other submarines or ocean vessels aside from serving intelligence gathering and information diseemination functions.

In 2010, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, Rhode Island, launched an undersea drone that travelled from Newport to Woods Hole, Massachusetts, US.

‘The ultimate end user for the contract is the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO), who acquires the relevant data and provides specialized services to all elements within the Department of Defense.’.