Network centric warfare with autonomous underwater vehicles - results from experimentation with HUGIN 1000

HUGIN Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) have been used with considerable success onboard a Norwegian mine hunter since 2001, mostly as an integral part of the mother ship. Recently, more emphasis has been placed on using the AUV as a sensor for other assets than the host platform, and for other applications than mine hunting. This was first demonstrated during the NATO exercise Northern Light 03 in Scotland, where HUGIN data was used in a rapid environmental assessment operation to prepare an amphibious landing in the area. Data was made available to the operations HQ approximately one week after the AUV missions took place. During the Azalea Festival in Norfolk, VA, USA in April 2005, this was taken one step further in that data from a HUGIN mission in Norway was transferred in real time from the AUV to a display in Norfolk. Visitors were able to see high-resolution bathymetric maps be built in real time, and were also able to modify HUGEVs mission remotely. All data was processed onboard the MCMV, and final results sent to Norfolk within 1-3 hours after AUV recovery. This was a powerful demonstration of how AUVs can contribute in a network centric warfare.