The US Navy has completed an at-sea refuelling demonstration involving an autonomous unmanned surface vessel (USV), allowing the platform to be captured, refuelled and released while underway.
The demonstration took place in Virginia using a MARTAC Devil Ray T38. The vessel was repeatedly captured and connected to a Sealartec Autonomous Replenishment at Sea (A-RAS) refuelling system using a towable capture and connection device (TCCD) deployed from the stern of USNS Vindicator.
The system completed dozens of full-cycle capture, refuelling and release evolutions and approximately 100 connection cycles during testing, transferring a total of 1,500 litres of fuel.
The Devil Ray T38 was selected following market research based on its stability and endurance, with its catamaran hull providing a stable platform for range instrumentation while allowing the alignment required for the TCCD to capture and connect with the vessel.
The demonstration was conducted by BWI, MARTAC and Sealartec, with support from U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division and Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division.
At-sea refuelling is intended to extend USV operating time by removing the requirement for vessels to return to port for fuel, allowing them to remain on station for longer periods.
