Gulf Insider
The US military is deploying unmanned and autonomous surface platforms that can tow an advanced mine-hunting sonar system to detect sea mines that were deployed by Iranian naval forces. This development comes even as Iran closed the Hormuz chokepoint on Saturday morning. By Sunday morning, Iran’s chief negotiator said some progress had been made in negotiations with the US, but there is still a long way to go before a deal is reached. Despite the volatility in the Hormuz chokepoint’s operational status, somewhat like Katy Perry’s “Hot N Cold,” the US military deployed numerous sea drones towing the floating sonar minesweeping system. WSJ explained: The Common Uncrewed Surface Vessel, a drone made by RTX that tows a new floating sonar system called the AQS-20, scans the bottom of the sea for mines, patrolling columns that are 100 feet wide at a time. Battery-powered submarine drones, called the MK18 Mod 2 Kingfish and the Knifefish, made by General Dynamics can be dropped in the water from a small boat and then scan for mines in a pattern. MK18 Mod 2 Kingfish The minesweeping push by the US Navy is unfolding alongside the US blockade at Hormuz, which the Trump administration hopes will pressure Tehran […]
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