A Kazakh vessel has been fitted and successfully tested with a new mine countermeasure system.
ECA Group announced on May 15, 2017 that it had previously installed the Unmanned Mine Counter Measure Integrated System (UMIS) onboard a Kazakh mine hunter vessel. The ship, of Project 10750E, was ordered by Kazakhstan from Russia in 2013. It launched in October 2015, just over a year after being laid down.
According to ECA Group, UMIS successfully went through sea acceptance trials.
The firm added in its statement,
“Composed of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) A9, Identification and mine disposal vehicles (EMDS) K-STER and a single multifunction console integrating the mission management software suite, This ECA Group UMIS system provides a fast and cost effective solution to MCM operations from initial seabed survey, target detection and classification down to final identification and neutralization.
With their high resolution sonar and video camera, the A9 AUV and identification vehicle K-STER I are not limited to MCM missions and will also provide the Kazakhstan Navy with maritime surveillance capabilities such as Search and Rescue (SAR) operations,”
ECA Group confirmed the mine hunter had been delivered to Aktau from Russia by the end of winter.
Kazakhstan has an option in its 2013 contract to procure a second mine hunter vessel if it chooses.
Military markets analyst, covering Eurasia, Middle East, and Africa.
