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Wed, 11 Nov 2026

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 Robot vessels take on the dangerous work of mine hunting

The conflict in the Gulf is an opportunity for the US to test its autonomous mine-hunting systems.

* The Strait of Hormuz remains a high-risk area for vessels due to missile and drone threats from the air, as well as underwater mines.
* Modern mines can be difficult to detect and can detonate when they sense an acoustic or magnetic signal, breaking a vessel's keel.
* Autonomous mine-hunting systems are being developed to reduce the risk of human casualties in mine-clearing operations.
* These systems use robots that can operate down to 100ft depth and can spare divers from a difficult and dangerous task.
* The US military has been using advanced autonomous submersibles, such as the Remus 100, for mine-hunting since the 2003 Iraq war.
* In recent years, more capable mine-hunting systems have been developed, including the Thales Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV), which can detect mines via sonar and create a 3D picture of the seabed.
* Autonomous mine-hunting vessels are cheaper than conventional minehunters and can be deployed by air with containerized control centers.
* The Royal Navy has announced its concept for a hybrid navy that mixes drones with conventional warships, but experts say this vision will only succeed if the fleet operates as one distributed force, sharing data in real-time.
* Insurers are concerned about the psychological impact of the mine threat on sailors and the uncertainty around just how many mines, if any, are out there.