Singapore Navy's new mine-hunting AUVs rely on high-resolution sidescan sonar
The operational deployment of several COMET-MCM autonomous underwater vehicles, used to detect and identify naval mines, has been announced by RTsys Underwater Technologies, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA). The deployment is a step forward in modernizing Singapore's mine countermeasures capabilities.
The Singapore Strait is one of the world's busiest shipping routes, with close to 150,000 vessels passing through each year – about three times the traffic of the Strait of Hormuz. Because so much trade depends on this corridor, any disruption from an underwater threat, such as mines, could have serious consequences for regional shipping and the broader Asia-Pacific economy.
To manage that risk, the RSN is now using several COMET-MCM systems, built by French company RTsys Underwater Technologies in partnership with DSTA. The autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are deployed in the early stages of mine countermeasures operations to locate and identify suspicious objects on the seafloor.
Each vehicle carries a high-resolution sidescan sonar and can operate autonomously for more than 12 hours, mapping large underwater areas with high positioning accuracy. Because the AUVs are preprogrammed before launch, they cut down on the manual workload for operators, speed up reconnaissance and reduce the need to put crew in hazardous areas.
How it fits into the mission
The system fits into the RSN's broader mine countermeasures process. Data from the COMET-MCM is combined with sonar readings from minehunter vessels to support each phase of a mission – detection, classification, identification and neutralization. Once a contact is flagged, it can be confirmed using remotely operated vehicles or divers equipped with handheld sonar, such as RTsys's SONADIVE.
The project involved close coordination between the three parties. DSTA managed the system's integration to meet the Navy's operational requirements, while RTsys drew on more than a decade of experience in underwater robotics.
The COMET-MCM is built at RTsys's factory in Lanester, Brittany, France, and has been tested under operational conditions in multiple trials. These tests confirmed its ability to send real-time tracking data to surface operators, supporting faster decision-making in the field.
“The COMET-MCM is the result of more than a decade of cooperation with navies worldwide. Its operational deployment by the Republic of Singapore Navy is further recognition of our expertise in underwater robotics and acoustics. It demonstrates our ability to meet the demanding requirements of the world’s most advanced navies in tackling the challenges of mine warfare. Finally, the COMET-MCM highlights how technological innovation can enhance national operational sovereignty” said Pierre-Alexandre Caux, sales director at RTsys Underwater Technologies.
The Republic of Singapore Navy also emphasizes the strategic importance of this capability: “The Singapore Strait is a vital artery for global trade. With the COMET-MCMs, we are enhancing our ability to detect and identify underwater threats with greater precision, efficiency and safety for our crews.”
