LIG Nex1, a defense contractor in South Korea, will develop an underwater mine detector for naval operations. LIG Nex1 was selected to develop the underwater mine detector uses cutting-edge technologies such as autonomous underwater driving and obstacle avoidance. LIG Nex1 produces a wide range of advanced precision electronic systems such as missiles, torpedoes, radars, tactical communication systems and naval combat systems. The self-driving underwater mine detector to be developed with indigenous technology will improve South Korea military’s ability to engage in mine countermeasures operation and further contribute to the development of defense robot technology
Equipped with a supersonic camera and Sonar, the underwater robot can self-drive for more than 20 hours to find mines, monitor enemy infiltration routes and collect topographic Information for civilian rescue operations. The mine detector can monitor infiltration routes and collect topographic Information, DAPA said that the new device can greatly reduce time and ensure safe and efficient operations. South Korea’s military has used Sonar installed in ships or explosive disposal teams to search and remove mines, causing concern over human casualties. Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect objects on or under the surface of the water, such as other vessels.
A 12 billion-won ($11 million) contract to develop the robot capable of autonomously searching for mines underwater was awarded to LIG Nex1 by South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) on Wednesday. The agency said the new mine detector, to be developed by 2023, is expected to cut the time spent on finding explosives in waters and strengthen the safety of service members involved in the task. The South Korean military currently uses Sound Navigation and Ranging (SONAR) systems on manned vessels or relies on troops’ visual detection to find the mines. Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect objects on or under the surface of the water, such as other vessels.
