The Navy is deploying numerous underwater drones to search for and destroy sea mines in the Persian Gulf. This is a part of an American military buildup aimed at stopping Iran from closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the event of a crisis, heraldnet.com reports.
The unmanned and remotely guided submersibles can carry a TV camera, homing sonar and an explosive charge. These little-known German-made devices, known as the SeaFox, once they find the mine, will explode together with it.
The SeaFox torpedo-like submersibles have been available for a decade and are used by about 10 countries.
The device is controlled by a 3,000-foot fiber-optic cable and sends live video back to a camera operator at a console. It operates up to 984 feet deep and travels at a speed of up to 6 knots.
The device can be deployed from a minesweeper, a helicopter, small boats or any other ships.
[mappress] Subsea World News Staff , July 12, 2012; Image: idexuae