FET Awarded Underwater Drone Contract for ‘Major’ Asian Navy
Forum Energy Technologies (FET) has received a contract to supply two Comanche light underwater drones for a “major” naval force in Asia.
The observation systems will be integrated with the customer’s new dive support vessels once completed.
The Comanches are being constructed at FET’s UK site in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, and are scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2023.
“FET has a strong reputation as a single source for manufacturing and delivering high-quality, robust vehicles and associated auxiliary products which are suited to underwater industry applications,” FET Subsea Vehicles Vice President Kevin Taylor stated.
“The Comanche light work-class ROV (remotely operated vehicles) continues to be one of our most versatile and sought-after models in the market and our in-house team are expert across the key disciplines required to ensure each vehicle is adapted to suit a campaign’s specific requirements.”
“We look forward to completing these newbuilds and seeing our systems delivering the required operational resilience and performance standards expected in such a safety-critical sector.”
FET’s Comanche Drones
The Comanche drones feature a high thrust-to-drag ratio for rapid setup and deployment in strong currents.
The vessel has a minimum payload of 300 kilograms (660 pounds). It can operate at a depth of 2,000 meters (1.2 miles) for underwater survey, repair, and maintenance.
The Comanche has precision navigation capabilities, cameras, sonars, and lighting for low-visibility operations. The vehicle is compatible with additional sensors and components for future requirements.
The drone operates through a seven-function manipulator arm for complicated sub-surface tasks.
