The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will launch a sleek, 132-foot unmanned ocean drone from Portland, OR, testing its abilities over a succeeding period of 18 months. The ship is entirely autonomous, fully operational without an onboard crew. The Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel is scheduled to be launched April 17 from the Vigor Shipyards in Oregon. The Vessel will continue sea-trials for 18 months following its maiden voyage, where it will be tested for its long-range tracking and self-driving functions.
In addition to locating spying submarines, the ship could also have a role in supplying other U.S naval vehicles and running logistics in operations. It will be christened in April in Portland, Oregon, and then begin to demonstrate its long-range capabilities over 18 months in cooperation with the Office of Naval Research and the Space and Naval Systems Warfare Command.
The diesel-electric submarines, with their nearly-noiseless engines, are incredibly difficult to track from afar. They’re also cheap at $200 million to $300 million apiece, making them affordable to the likes of Iran, which claims to have a fleet of 17.
DARPA
- The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Defenseresponsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military.
- DARPA was created in 1958 as the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
- Its purpose was to formulate and execute research and development projects to expand the frontiers of technology and science, with the aim to reach beyond immediate military requirements
