A-18M is a new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) designed and developed by ECA Group.

A-18M是法国ECA集团设计开发的一种新型无人潜航器。

 

Vessel Type

Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)

航行器类型

自动水下航行器

 

Manufacturer

ECA Group

制造商

法国ECA集团

 

Length

3.8m

长度

3.8米

 

Maximum Speed

6k

最大速度

6节

 

Operational Depth

Between 5m and 300m

作战深度

5米到300米之间

 

 

ECA Group demonstrated the capabilities of A-18M AUV in Toulon area in February 2018. Credit: ECA Group.

ECA集团于2018年2月在土伦地区展示了A-18M AUV的能力。来源：ECA集团。

 

The autonomous underwater vehicle maintains a high degree of stability, which enables it to take high-resolution images of the detected objects. Credit: ECA Group.

 

A-18M is a new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) designed and developed by ECA Group. It is the only military variant in the A-18 AUV family of vehicles. The AUV made its first public appearance in February 2018.

A-18M是ECA集团设计开发的一种新型无人潜航器。它是A-18 AUV系列航行器中唯一的军用改型。AUV于2018年2月首次公开亮相。

 

The mid-sized AUV can perform a range of mine countermeasure (MCM) missions, including identification and classification of conventional underwater mines and mine-like targets.

中型无人潜航器（AUV）可以执行一系列水雷对抗任务，包括识别和分类常规水下水雷和类似水雷目标。

 

The vehicle complies with the standardisation agreement (STANAG) 1364 of Nato. It can be deployed from unmanned surface platforms such as ECA Group’s Inspector Mk2  MCM unmanned surface vessel (USV).

该航行器符合北约标准化协议（STANAG）1364。它可以在无人水面平台上部署，如ECA集团的“巡视者”（Inspector）Mk2 MCM无人水面舰艇（USV）。

 

A-18M AUV design and features

A-18M AUV的设计和特点

 

Modular design techniques were employed in the development of the A-18M AUV. The vehicle integrates a compact structure and can be deployed in MCM missions involving the neutralisation or disposal of underwater mines.

模块化设计技术被用于A-18M AUV的开发。该航行器集成了一个紧凑的结构，可以部署在涉及水下水雷的抑制或清除的MCM任务中。

 

It withstands harsh environmental conditions and offers greater stability when encountering heavy turbulence from waves.

它能承受恶劣的环境条件，并在遇到波浪的剧烈湍流时提供更大的稳定性。

 

The high degree of stability enables the vehicle to capture high-resolution images. The information obtained by the platform is processed in the command centre. A USV will act as a bridge between the command centre and the AUV.

高度的稳定性使航行器能够拍摄高分辨率的图像。平台获得的信息在指挥中心进行处理。USV将充当指挥中心和AUV之间的桥梁。

 

The lightweight and compact design of the vehicle allows the operators to deploy it from small platforms such as USVs, frigates and corvettes. The vehicle can operate at a maximum depth of 300m, which can be altered based on the operational requirements.

该航行器的重量轻、紧凑设计使运营商能够在小型平台上部署，如USV、护卫舰和轻型护卫舰。该航行器可在300米的最大深度下运行，可根据运行要求进行更改。

 

The AUV has a length of 3.8m and diameter of 0.465m, however, its length can be extended based on payload and modules. The underwater vehicle weighs 370kg and can be transported by air for distant missions.

AUV的长度为3.8米，直径为0.465米，但其长度可以根据有效载荷和模块进行扩展。这种水下航行器重达370公斤，可以通过空运执行远程任务。

 

The underwater vehicle can be incorporated into a larger network of unmanned systems. It can also form part of ECA Group’s Unmanned Maritime Integrated System (UMIS) suite.

水下航行器可以被纳入一个更大的无人系统网络中。它也可以成为ECA集团无人海上综合系统（UMIS）套件的一部分。

 

Payloads and sensors of A-18M AUV

A-18M AUV的有效载荷和传感器

 

The design of A-18M allows it to incorporate a wide range of payloads based on mission requirements. The vehicle has a large payload capacity and carries an interferometric synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) to detect and classify mines with high accuracy. It offers a maximum swath of 2 x 265m and along-track resolution between 3cm and 220m.

A-18M的设计使其能够根据任务要求纳入广泛的有效载荷。该航行器具有大的有效载荷能力，并携带干涉合成孔径声纳（SAS），以高精度探测和分类地雷。它提供了2 x 265米的最大波束，沿轨道的分辨率在3厘米到220米之间。

 

Other major payloads on the AUV include video equipment, a forward-looking Sonar, CTD instrument, acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) and equipment to measure turbidity in water.

AUV上的其他主要有效载荷包括视频设备、前视声纳、CTD仪器、声学多普勒电流分析仪（ADCP）和测量水中浊度的设备。

 

The A-18M AUV can be optionally equipped with ultra-short baseline systems (USBL) or long baseline systems (LBL) type tracking systems. Other options include the launch and recovery system (LARS) for a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB), surface ship integration, and containerised unit.

A-18M AUV可以选择配备超短基线系统（USBL）或长基线系统（LBL）类型跟踪系统。其他选择包括用于刚性外壳充气艇（RHIB）的发射和回收系统（LARS）、水面舰艇集成和集装箱单元。

 

Navigation and communication

导航和通信

 

Navigation systems installed on the vessel include an inertial navigation system (INS), military global navigation satellite system (GNSS), global positioning system (GPS) and Doppler Velocity Log (DVL).

航行器上安装的导航系统包括惯性导航系统 (INS)、军用全球导航卫星系统 (GNSS)、全球定位系统 (GPS)和多普勒速度记录仪 (DVL)。

 

The A-18M AUV features an inbuilt Wi-Fi facility, ethernet, acoustic methods and satellite communications to maintain communications with the command centre.

A-18M AUV内置Wi-Fi设施、以太网、声波法和卫星通信，以保持与指挥中心的通信。

 

Safety is ensured by the on-board safety equipment, such as emergency pinger, fault or leak detection, and strobe light, which alert the personnel in the command centre in case of emergencies during the mission.

航行器内载安全设备确保了安全，如紧急报警器、故障或泄漏检测以及闪光灯，在任务期间发生紧急情况时向指挥中心的人员发出警报。

 

A-18M AUV propulsion and performance

A-18M AUV推进和性能

 

The AUV is powered by a 10.6kWh energy unit, which allows the vehicle to attain a maximum speed of up to 6k. The nominal speed of the vehicle is 3/4k, while the maximum area coverage rate is more than 2km²/h.

AUV由10.6千瓦时的能量单元提供动力，使航行器能够达到最高6节的最高速度。航行器的标称速度为3/4节，而最大区域覆盖率超过2平方公里/小时（km²/h）。

 

The A-18M AUV offers a maximum endurance of up to 24 hours.

A-18M AUV的最大续航时间可达24小时。