Sensors Required for Tactical Mission-Based
AUVs
Tactical mission-based Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) require sophisticated sensor
suites to effectively perform military and security operations in challenging underwater
environments. These specialized underwater platforms must be equipped with various sensors
to ensure successful mission execution, from surveillance and reconnaissance to mine
countermeasures and intelligence gathering.
Navigation and Positioning Sensors
Inertial Navigation Systems (INS)
High-precision INS combining gyroscopes, accelerometers, and sometimes magnetometers
to provide continuous information about the vehicle's velocity, position, and orientation in
GNSS-denied underwater environments [1] [2]
Tactical-grade IMUs with low drift rates (typically less than 0.1% of distance traveled) to
maintain accurate positioning during extended missions [2] [3]
Externally-aided INS solutions that provide comprehensive roll, pitch, heading, and heave
data for precise underwater navigation [1] [4]
Acoustic Navigation Systems
Doppler Velocity Logs (DVLs) that use multiple acoustic beams to estimate velocity relative
to the sea floor for accurate positioning [5] [6]
Long Baseline (LBL) and Ultra-Short Baseline (USBL) acoustic positioning systems that allow
AUVs to communicate with underwater transponders or transducer arrays for accurate
position fixes [5] [4]
Acoustic modems for underwater data transmission and ranging capabilities between AUVs
and surface vessels [7] [8]
Depth and Pressure Sensors
High-precision pressure sensors for accurate depth determination and maintaining desired
operational depth [4] [9]
Depth sensors with appropriate ratings for tactical missions (typically ranging from 300m to
6000m depending on mission requirements) [2] [10]
Surveillance and Reconnaissance Sensors
Sonar Systems
Side-scan sonars for broad area search, seafloor mapping, and detection of underwater
objects [11] [12]
Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) for high-resolution imaging of the seafloor and underwater
targets [2] [12]
Multibeam echosounders for detailed bathymetric mapping and underwater terrain
assessment [12] [10]
Forward-looking sonars for obstacle avoidance and target detection [4] [13]
Passive sonar arrays with hydrophones for acoustic detection and tracking of underwater
vessels without emitting signals [11] [14]
Optical Sensors
High-definition underwater cameras with low-light capabilities for visual identification and
inspection [15] [2]
Video systems with autofocus and wide field of view for underwater surveillance and target
recognition [15] [9]
LED-induced fluorescence technology for in-water chemical sensing applications [7] [16]
Specialized Detection Systems
Magnetic anomaly detectors (MAD) for detecting metallic objects and submarines [8] [4]
Underwater chemical sensors for detecting trace elements, pollutants, or specific
compounds of interest [16] [14]
Radiation sensors for detecting nuclear materials or anomalies in underwater
environments [14] [8]
Environmental and Situational Awareness Sensors
Environmental Sensors
Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) sensors for measuring water properties that
affect sonar performance [17] [18]
Current sensors to monitor water flow and adjust navigation accordingly [18] [9]
Oxygen and chemical sensors for environmental monitoring and detecting anomalies [5] [16]
Vehicle Status Sensors
Internal temperature sensors to monitor critical systems and prevent overheating [19] [9]
Leak detection sensors to immediately alert of hull breaches or water ingress [2] [9]
Battery monitoring systems to track power consumption and remaining mission
endurance [19] [9]
Tactical Mission-Specific Sensors
Mine Countermeasure (MCM) Sensors
High-frequency active sonars specifically designed for mine detection and classification [13]
[20]
Specialized imaging sonars capable of distinguishing mines from other seafloor objects [2]
[20]
Multi-sensor integration systems that combine sonar, magnetic, and optical data for
improved mine detection accuracy [14] [20]
Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Sensors
Electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors for enhanced underwater imaging in various
conditions [7] [21]
Signal intelligence (SIGINT) systems for detecting and analyzing underwater
communications [22] [21]
Acoustic sensors for submarine detection and tracking capabilities [11] [14]
Communication and Data Relay
Underwater acoustic communication systems for transmitting tactical data between AUVs
and command centers [7] [22]
Retractable communications masts for satellite or radio frequency communications when
surfaced [22] [23]
UNet-PANDA systems for enhanced underwater coverage and connectivity in networked
AUV operations [7] [8]
Integration Considerations for Tactical AUVs
Tactical mission-based AUVs require not just individual sensors but integrated sensor suites that
work together to provide comprehensive situational awareness and mission capabilities [11] [20] .
Modern tactical AUVs employ sensor fusion algorithms to combine data from multiple sensors,
enhancing navigation accuracy and target detection capabilities [5] [3] .
The selection of specific sensors depends on the particular tactical mission profile, with
considerations for size, weight, power consumption, and depth rating of the AUV platform [17] [2] .
Advanced tactical AUVs like the HUGIN Superior, A9-M, and Guardian incorporate multiple
sensor types in modular configurations to adapt to various mission requirements [22] [13] [6] .
For effective tactical operations, these sensor systems must be ruggedized to withstand harsh
underwater conditions, including high pressure, temperature variations, and potential shock or
vibration [2] [21] . The integration of these sensors with sophisticated onboard processing
capabilities enables autonomous decision-making during tactical missions, even when
communications with operators are limited or unavailable [20] [3] .
⁂
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11. https://cellula.com/defence-auv-solutions/
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13. https://www.exail.com/product/a9-m-autonomous-underwater-vehicle
14. https://www.warse.org/IJCCN/static/pdf/file/ijccn57722018.pdf
15. https://www.militaryaerospace.com/uncrewed/article/16707400/sensor-payloads-for-unmanned-vehicl
es
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19. https://www.reventec.com/industries/unmanned-aerial-vehicles/
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23. https://www.marinetechnologynews.com/news/integration-transform-submarine-tactics-638803
