Eyes in the sky for Danish navy
25th April 2016 - 11:00 by Richard Thomas in Portsmouth
The workhorses of the Royal Danish Navy’s presence in the cold waters of the arctic - the two Knud Rasmussen class arctic patrol vessels (APV) - could look to unmanned systems in providing an embarked airborne capability.
A third APV will enter service next year joining the Knud Rasmussen and Ejnar Mikkelsen, while the Danish Navy’s old Super Lynx helicopters will be replaced by nine MH-60 Seahawk’s, also expected to take place in 2017.
Although the ships can act as a staging post and fuel stop for manned rotary elements thanks to its flight deck, there is no hangar on the vessel so it cannot embark a manned helicopter capability.
Detailing how the navy operates the vessels in the challenging seas and environment of the arctic and in Greenland’s territorial waters Lt Cdr Frank Edlefsen, commanding officer of the Ejnar Mikkelsen, said that unmanned systems brought significant benefits.
‘They have already been tested and are an easy way to get eyes in the sky. They could be used to help us find the best route through the ice, document [fishing] violations and assist in SAR, although that might be of limited use in the arctic,’ he said.
Puma UAS have previously been trialled onboard the Knud Rasmussen, with further flights likely to take place again in future.
The APVs regularly find themselves often operating in sub-zero temperatures, and usually deployed around Greenland and the Faroe Islands undertaking surveillance, fisheries patrol, police and coastguard-like duties.
Representatives from the Danish Navy have been attending the Offshore Patrol and Surveillance conference and exhibition in Portsmouth, which runs from 19-21 April.
Abraços
PS : A Marinha da Dinamarca não brinca em SERVIÇO !!!!!