According to information published by the UK MoD on April 14, 2023, forces from France, the United Kingdom, and the United States completed a two-week exercise in the Arabian Gulf focused on countering mines.
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US sailors assigned to the mine countermeasures ship USS Devastator (MCM 6), prepare an SLQ60 SeaFox. (Picture source: US DoD)
The training exercise, called Artemis Trident, included mine countermeasures ship USS Devastator (MCM 6) with the Seafox ROV as well as landing ship dock RFA Cardigan Bay (L3009). Dive teams and explosive ordnance disposal technicians from the U.S. Navy, UK Royal Navy, and French Navy also participated.
The exercise included a professional exchange among Sailors from all navies aboard Cardigan Bay during the initial week. Participants shared best practices and tactics for detecting, classifying, and clearing naval mines effectively.
The previous iteration of Artemis Trident took place in April 2021 when the Australian, French, UK, and U.S. navies conducted mine hunting and clearance training in the Arabian Gulf.
About the Seafox
The Seafox is a highly effective anti-mine remotely operated vehicle designed to detect and destroy ground and moored mines. Manufactured by Atlas Elektronik, the Seafox is currently in service with eleven navies across seventy platforms.
Its low life cycle cost and advanced design make it a valuable asset for navies around the world. Equipped with sonar, an Inertial navigation system, and a 1.4 kg shaped charge warhead, the Seafox is capable of locating and destroying mines that pose a danger to ships and other vessels.
Its use of a fiber-optic cable to communicate with the ship, and its dead reckoning transponder, make it a highly effective tool for damage estimation, route surveys, and harbor surveillance missions.
With a maximum speed of 6 knots, a range of 1200 meters, and an operational depth of up to 300 meters, the Seafox is a versatile and reliable tool for naval operations.
