Pluto Plus
The Pluto Plus is an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) designed for use in underwater mine identification and destruction by militaries.[1] The vehicle is battery operated, has a maximum speed of 6 kt, and an endurance of 2 to 6 hours. Its ability to be fitted with a wireless link makes it suitable for counter-terrorism purposes.[2] The Pluto's UUV family is developed and build by the company Gaymarine Srl in Lomazzo (Italy). The Columbia Group is the exclusive licensee for fabrication of the Pluto Plus in the United States.[3][4][5]
Operators
[edit]- Egyptian Navy
- 3 in service, (under a $10.6 million fixed-price contract in 2009 with The Columbia Group)[6][4][5][7] - Hellenic Navy
- 3rd Fleet Minesweeping Squadron of the Fleet Headquarters - 3 deployed on HS EVROPI (M 62)[a][8]
- Italian Navy
- GAETA class (installed by end 2019, after the class' modernisation programme)[6][9] - Norwegian Navy
- 6 in service, 2 on 3 Oksøy-class mine hunters[6][10][b] - Spanish Navy
- at least 8 in service, 2 on each of first 4 Segura class minehunters[11][12][13]
Specifications
[edit]| Type | USV |
| Length | 2250 mm |
| Width | 580 mm |
| Height | 770 mm |
| Weight | 320 kg |
| Payload | 100 kg |
| Maximum Depth | 300 m underwater |
| Speed | 6 kn |
| Sonar Range | 0.5 m to 120 m (optional 400 m) |
| Armament | Manipulator arm for placing explosive charges |
| Guidance | Remote-controlled, Autonomous |
| Source: [1] | |
Notes
[edit]- ^ former HMS Bicester (M36)
- ^ 2 Pluto Plus USVs deployed on Karmøy, Måløy and Hinnøy minehunters, under a modernisation programme between 2008 and 2011.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Columbia Group to Supply Pluto Plus UUVs to Egyptian Navy".
- ^ "Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's | IHS".
- ^ "Columbia Group to Supply Pluto Plus UUVs to Egyptian Navy".
- ^ a b Mathewson, Andro (2021-08-26). "Responding to the Proliferation of Uninhabited Underwater Vehicles". Center for International Maritime Security. Archived from the original on 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
- ^ a b "Columbia Group to Supply Pluto Plus UUVs to Egyptian Navy - Defense Industry Daily". https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/. Archived from the original on 2024-06-23. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ^ a b c "Pluto Plus AUV". www.navaldrones.com. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
- ^ vasundhara (2009-06-21). "Egyptian Navy to Get US UUVs". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
The Egyptian Navy has awarded a $10.6m contract for unmanned undersea vehicles (UUV) to US-based technical services support company Columbia Group.
- ^ "Ν/ΘΗ ΕΥΡΩΠΗ (M 62)" [HS EVROPI (M 62)] (in Greek). Hellenic Navy. 2025-01-09. Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
Οπλισμός: [...] Τρία (3) Υποβρύχια Οχήματα εντοπισμού–εξουδετέρωσης ναρκών τύπου PUTO PLUS, με δυνατότητα μεταφοράς-τοποθέτησης υποβρύχιων βομβίδων εξουδετέρωσης ναρκών. [...] τιθέμενο στην 3η Μοίρα Ναρκαλιευτικών του Αρχηγείου Στόλου.
[Armament: [...] Three (3) PUTO PLUS underwater mine detection and neutralization vehicles, capable of carrying and deploying underwater mine-neutralizing charges. [...] assigned to the 3rd Minesweeping Squadron of the Fleet Headquarters.] - ^ . MARITIME Security & Defence (MSD). MITTLER REPORT VERLAG GMBH. May 2021. ISSN 1617-7983 https://euro-sd.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MSD_2_2021_WEB.pdf. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
By the end of 2019, the Italian Navy's eight GAETA class MCMVs had completed a modernisation programme that encompassed the installation of [...] the Gaymarine PLUTO PLUS [...].
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ a b "OKSØY surface-effect minehunters / minesweepers (1994-1997)". navypedia.org. Archived from the original on 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
- ^ "Spanish Navy to modernize fleet of 6 Segura class minehunters". armyrecognition.com. 2023-10-06. Archived from the original on 2025-01-01. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
They have diving gear and a Gayrobot Pluto Plus anti-mine submersible (used to locate and destroy mines up to 300 meters deep).
- ^ "Segura Class". naval-technology.com. Archived from the original on 2024-06-19. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
The system includes two Gayrobot Pluto Plus Mine Identification and Disposal ROV's equipped with underwater cameras.
- ^ "SEGURA minehunters (1999-2005)". navypedia.org. 2025-01-09. Archived from the original on 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
The first four carry two Gayrobot Pluto Plus mine-detection and disposal vehicles, while later units carry Kongsberg Minesniper mine-disposal ROVs; an order for four additional ship-sets was placed in 2003.