ECA Group has secured an upgrade of the six autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) A9-M delivered in 2013 to the French Navy mine disposal divers (GPD) of Toulon and Brest.
Following three years of operational use, the six AUVs A9-M will be improved through the integration of new long range communication capabilities.
The new function of the long range communication will allow to exchange messages from the vehicles even when non line of sight (NLOS). It will then be possible to send basic order and mission modifications, such as a return to the launching point, the company explained.
This new function which is the result of operational return of experience (RETEX) will be proposed in the future on all ECA Group AUVs (A9, A18, A27).