Leonard T. Koonce 
According to information released by the British Navy on January 29, 2021, the British Royal Navy is expected to receive three SWEEO world-class autonomous minesweepers to work on mine clearance operations and reduce the risk to sailors on these dangerous missions. Using its cutting-edge technology, the system, known as the Combined Influence Sweep (Sweep), can defeat modern digital sea mines that can pose risks by detecting and targeting passing ships and submarines.
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Each SWEEP system includes an autonomous surface vessel that tows a sensor unit behind it. (Image source British Navy)
A new autonomous vessel is at the heart of each of the three systems. It can neutralize many types of sea mines using equipment towed behind the boat which can generate a variety of simulated magnetic, acoustic and electric ship signatures to launch the mine.
The entire system can be controlled remotely, at sea or on land, and can be deployed quickly when needed.
Designed and manufactured by Atlas Elektronik UK in Dorset under a £ 13million (US $ 17.3million) contract with the Department of Defense (MoD) and after a period of successful testing, the demonstrator of a new unmanned demining system was delivered to the British Royal Navy in August 2018.
SWEEP will provide new autonomous minehunter solution technologies and provide the UK Navy with increased operational capabilities to counter modern mine threats. The system is capable of defeating modern digital sea mines which can detect and target military ships passing overhead. The sweeper system, which has “detect and avoid†capability, could also work with other similar stand-alone systems.
The latest investment in the British Royal Navy’s minehunting operations comes just weeks after the Navy announced it would invest in three autonomous maritime mine countermeasures (MMCMs).
Sweep and the MMCM can work together to defeat the threat posed by sea mines and make international waters safer. The first Sweep system will be delivered at the end of 2022, after which they will enter operational evaluation before entering service on a date to be determined.
Each SWEEP system includes an autonomous surface vessel that tows a sensor unit behind it. The unit uses magnetic, acoustic and electrical technologies to identify and neutralize different types of sea mines. The system is controlled by a portable command center which can be based at sea or ashore.
