Japan: jointly develops new UUV with Australia

Japan: jointly develops new UUV with Australia

・Verifying the mine removal performance of MHI/OZZ-5

・Strengthen underwater communication technology and interoperability

We bring you a summary of articles from Asia Times.

Hong Kong Media: Asia Times

On February 18, it was announced that Japan and Australia would cooperate on interoperable mine clearance measures.

1. Japan partners with Australia to develop new unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) technology.

2. Strengthen mine clearance measures around Japan’s Nansei Islands.

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force:

Strengthen mine clearance measures with new UUVs and long-range underwater acoustic communication systems.

Maritime Self-Defense Force’s new UUV:

1. Signed a contract with MHI for type I and type II underwater gliders (OZZ-5).

2. Conducting oceanographic research on water temperature, salinity, ocean currents, etc. in the seas surrounding Japan.

NEC’s long-range underwater acoustic communication system:

Additionally, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has signed a contract with NEC to develop an underwater communication system.

Develop a long-distance underwater acoustic communication module.

This is a state-of-the-art communications system for UUV control, location awareness, and underwater vessel communications.

UUV system performance testing:

In the performance test, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ UUV “OZZ-5” will be used.

Equipped with dual imaging sonar suite:

1. This sonar detects buried objects using low frequencies,

2. Capable of high-resolution scanning of exposed objects on the ocean floor.

International Military Information: Janes

Japan and Australia:

A new RAS for undersea warfare will be jointly developed based on the OZZ-5. A bilateral agreement was signed.

The aim is to strengthen interoperability with the underwater communication technologies of both countries and improve mine removal performance.

Australia’s Defense Science and Technology Group (DSTG): Japan’s Defense Logistics Agency (ATLA)

This is the first joint research project on underwater communication technology.

The joint research will be completed by the end of 2027.

1. Utilize a simulator to establish evaluation indicators for underwater acoustic communication tests.

2. Sharing test results for Japan-Australia UUV interoperability.

China’s ballistic missile nuclear submarine (SSBN):

1. China wants to bring Guam, Hawaii, and the mainland United States within its attack range.

2. To achieve this, SSBNs will need to reach the high seas of the Pacific Ocean.

Importance of Miyako Strait and Bashi Strait:

1. Miyako Strait between Taiwan and Japan,

2. Bashi Strait between Taiwan and the Philippines

This is an extremely important submarine route.

Cooperation with AUKUS:

Mine clearance measures will focus on cooperation from the Australia-UK-US partnership, AUKUS.

Stars and Stripes Newspaper: Article from March 2023

The AUKUS partnership aims to ‘introduce new technologies such as nuclear submarines’.

Hypersonics, anti-hypersonic aircraft and missiles, electronic warfare, submarine warfare, cyber warfare, etc.

https://www.recordchina.co.jp/b928707-s25-c100-d0192.html

Maritime Self-Defense Force: “OZZ-5” deployed on Mogami-class destroyer

We will provide you with a summary of articles published on Yahoo! News.

Maritime Self-Defense Force underwater drone:

We have begun deploying OZZ-5, an underwater unmanned aerial vehicle for mine detection, to Mogami-class destroyers.

International Maritime Defense Equipment Exhibition: IMDEX Asia 2023

IMDEX Asia 2023 will be held in Singapore from May 6th to 8th.

The second Mogami-class ship “Kumano” participates:

The Kumano was anchored at Changi Naval Base in Singapore.

British military weekly: Jane’s Defense Weekly reporter

OZZ-5 deployment status:

1. They were sequentially deployed following the Mogami type, which was already in service.

2. 1st ship Mogami, 2nd ship Kumano, 3rd ship Noshiro, 4th ship Mikuma,

Deployment has already begun in March.

Latest OZZ-5 specifications:

OZZ-5 is 4m long, 0.5m wide, and weighs 200kg.

It has a maximum speed of 5 knots (9.26 km/h) and runs for 9 hours on Li batteries.

OZZ-5 latest sonar:

1. Thales: High Frequency Synthetic Aperture Sonar (HF-SAS)

“SAMDIS” automatically detects mines that are difficult to detect, such as stealth mines.

2. NEC Japan: Low Frequency Synthetic Aperture Sonar (LF-SAS)

Low-frequency synthetic aperture sonar (LF-SAS) for detecting sea mines buried under the sea

France has technological strengths in HF-SAS, and Japan in LF-SAS.

In addition to mine detection sonar:

OZZ-5 is also equipped with an inertial navigation system (INS), Wi-Fi, and satellite communications systems.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/expert/articles/3e38f280bec7f35ddea96c257f752d0beb7e5f2a