LMI-2 Squid
The LMI-2 Squid (or DSM.1 for Drone, Submersible, Multipurpose in United Kingdom of Isselmere-Nieland Defence Forces' service) is the Royal Isselmere-Nieland Navy's standard submersible drone or autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The Squid may be launched either from its parent submarine's drone housing (Royal Shipyards of Isselmere-Nieland (RSIN) vessels purchased with the Squid have these housings) or may swim out of a standard RINN (585mm) or larger torpedo tube. It is powered by high-efficiency fuel cells driving a high-power electric motor. With its clean hydrodynamic shape and quiet propulsion, the DSM.1 is very silent when it needs to be. The "Squid" is a modular design that can be configured to complete several missions. In its most common configuration, it has a module containing three noisemaker/torpedoes (NT module or NTM) that may be used to defend the submarine from enemy attack or may be guided by the DSM.1 to perform a limited assault. The explosive NTs travel at about 6 knots and are equipped with a small sonar seeker head. Alternatively, the Squid may carry a 20mm cannon firing supercavitating rounds (SCRs; up to fifteen carried). Generally the Squid travels at between 3-5 knots, although the DSM.1 can shoot off at a short-range burst speed of 20-25 knots when threatened, clouding its wake with NTs.
The Squid serves as a marine mine detector/neutraliser and as a short range sonar probe. In the former mission, the Squid may either be controlled by an operator via fibre-optic microcable (FOMC) or operate autonomously using its Lyme and Martens Industries' patented Kingfisher automatic target recognition/autonomous operation situational awareness module systems (ATR/AOSAM) in conjunction with its short-range pinpoint active sonar to locate mines. When the Squid detects a mine, it may attach an explosive device using one of its three explosive NTs to neutralise the mine. The DSM.1 may guide the NT to the mine by FOMC or via the AUV's acoustic-acoustic modem. Alternatively, the DSM.1 may use SCRs to detonate the mine. (Needless to say, exploding a mine would reveal the presence of the submarine.)
As a remote sonar probe to deliver real time intelligence to the parent submarine, the Squid trails a length of FOMC (up to 5 km contained within the Squid) to transmit the drone's sonar data to the parent submarine for processing. If some rapidity is required (up to 25 knots on a straight course) or if the "Squid" is to remain on station for an extended period of time, a thicker power umbilical, which also serves as a towed array, to the parent submarine can be used so as to not drain the Squid's fuel cells and battery. The umbilical also serves as a towed array. (Umbilical option only available on RSIN built ships with drone davits.) Alternatively, the Squid can be sent out to autonomously map sensitive areas or to gather other intelligence such as enemy fleet dispositions. The DSM.1 is guided by its advanced inertial navigation systems and its short-range collision avoidance sonar.
An autonomous Squid may communicate with its parent submarine via an acoustic-acoustic modem. This communication system also allows the DSM.1 to return to its housing for debriefing. At great distances, however, the Squid may home into a particular sound signature emitted from the parent submarine. This sound signature beacon uses slightly modified calls of resident sea creatures, which may be updated in the field to fit circumstances, allowing the parent submarine and the DSM.1 to remain undetected.
LMI-2
Functions: mine detector/neutraliser, sonar probe
Dimensions: diameter (travelling): 585mm; length: 6.7m
Mass: 1742kg
Propulsion: one axial propulsor; Baillard Electrotechnique PHDA-7 PEM fuel cell modules connected via a Semling Electrics MGBS-23U generator-battery system to a Felsingburgh Turboelectrics MME-51 electric motor.
Range: at cruise speed: 360km+ (195nm); at burst speed: 12km
Depth: 600m
Speed: cruise: ~4 kts.; maximum burst: 25 kts.
Price: $4 million per drone (includes NTM and supercavitating cannon module (SCCM))
LMI-2.2
Functions: mine detector/neutraliser, sonar probe
Service designation: (-2): DSM.1; (-2.2): DSM.2
Dimensions:
(-2): diameter (travelling): 585mm; length: 6.7m
(-2.2): diameter: 533mm; length: 6.42m
Mass:
(-2): 1742kg
(-2.2): 1721.83kg
Propulsion
(-2): One axial propulsor; Baillard Electrotechnique PHDA-7 PEM fuel cell modules connected via a Semling Electrics MGBS-23U generator-battery system to a Felsingburgh Turboelectrics MME-51 electric motor.
(-2.2):
Electronics:
Payload: 20mm supercavitating cannon (15 rounds); 3 × ULB.122 Barnacle mine/torpedo countermeasures
Range:
(-2): At cruise speed: 360km+ (195nm); at burst speed: 50km
(-2.2):
Depth: 1000m
Speed: cruise: ~4 kts.; maximum burst: 35 kts.
Price: $4 million per drone (includes NTM and supercavitating cannon module (SCCM))
|
Topics on Isselmere-Nieland |
|
|---|---|---|
| Category | Factbook Categories: Administrative divisions | Constitution | Defence Forces | Festivities | Government | Languages | Laws | ||
