The UK announced the beginning of the deployment of new underwater gliders to detect Russian submarines. Interestingly, the SG-1 Fantom was primarily developed for whale and marine observation.
However, after the integration of Helsing’s Lura artificial intelligence, the SG-1 Fantom was reclassified as an autonomous submarine detector. Against the backdrop of the growing threat from Russia, the question of how to detect and counter submarines has become more relevant than ever.
One of the features of the SG-1 Fantom is its invisibility. This is achieved due to the fact that there are no engines on the SG-1 Fantom, and movement is probably carried out thanks to currents at a speed of 1-2 knots.
To detect submarines, the SG-1 Fantom is equipped with acoustic sensors and Lura artificial intelligence, which, according to the developers, is capable of detecting sound signatures 10 times quieter, 40 times faster and determining the type of target more accurately, even with an experienced acoustician.
The SG-1 Fantom is small in size, 195 cm long, 28 cm in diameter and weighs about 60 kg. It is able to work completely autonomously for three months. Its launch and evacuation can be carried out directly from the board of a warship or commercial vessel, because it does not require special systems for this.
The principles of its operation The SG-1 Fantom is not complicated, since its launch it has continuously monitored the environment with its acoustic sensors. As soon as artificial intelligence recognizes a submarine or other enemy target in the sound signature, the SG-1 Fantom rises to the surface and sends a detection signal through the SATCOM satellite communications antenna.
It is planned that hundreds of SG-1 Fantoms will be deployed at sea and form entire swarms, which will monitor vast areas and improve situational awareness of the UK and its NATO allies. The company does not name the cost of the SG-1 Fantom, but notes that “one operator can control hundreds of gliders from headquarters, receiving accurate intelligence at a cost of 10% of the cost of a patrol anti-submarine ship with the crew.”
It can be mentioned that Helsing supplies its HF-1 and HX-2 loitering ammunition to Ukraine, which have already proven themselves on the battlefield, the company recently announced its intentions to supply 6000 HX-2 drones to Ukraine.