System Now Cleared for NATO Use
The MINESNIPER MkIII, Kongsberg Defence System’s latest generation One-Shot Mine Disposal Weapon System, was recently tested in a live fire exercise as part of its sea acceptance trials, and neutralised both a moored mine and a bottom-laid mine.
The result of fifteen years’ operational experience and evolution – and benefiting from an active development role undertaken by the Royal Norwegian Navy – MINESMIPER MkIII represents the latest and most advanced technology in sea mine countermeasures, according to the company.
MINESNIPER operations are typically conducted in one fifth of the operational time when compared with the use of classic ROVs. The successful trial, which demonstrated, “unique maneuverability, automatic navigation modes, identification and neutralisation effectiveness,“ according to Eirik Lie, Acting President of Kongsberg Defence Systems, now qualifies the system for service with NATO forces.
“Our main assignment is to continuously develop and modernise the Norwegian Armed Forces. The Royal Norwegian Navy has with the Kongsberg MINESNIPER MkIII a state of the art One Shot Weapon System designed to meet the MCM fleet’s need for an effective countermine tool. In addition, the system with its upgraded training vehicles provides the operators with a proven extended capability of identifying underwater objects. The demand for an effective and user friendly One Shot Weapon System and identification ROV is met in every way”, project manager Dag Jarle Archer-Lure in the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency, said.
