Saipem, an Italy-headquartered engineering specialist, has unveiled Hydrone-D, a cutting-edge hybrid autonomous underwater vehicle designed for mine countermeasure missions. The drone’s remote operation capability extends to depths over 600 meters (approximately 2,000 feet), making it suitable for complex underwater mine detection and neutralization tasks. It features a suite of side-scan sonars to provide detailed seabed surveys and shipwreck or pipeline inspections alongside mine hunting. Hydrone-D carries up to four explosive charges which can be deployed to safely eliminate detected naval mines. The platform is compact and robust, measuring 3.5 meters in length and 1.5 meters in width, and employs precision navigation technology including inertial navigation systems and doppler velocity logs to maintain position and avoid obstacles underwater. Communication is maintained via acoustic modems and tethered connections, with real-time data relayed to operators. Manufactured by Saipem’s robotics division Sonsub, Hydrone-D leverages expertise from subsea operations for oil and gas and will play an essential role in Italy’s next-generation naval mine countermeasure initiatives, promising enhanced safety and operational efficiency in coastal and deepwater zones.
