In recent days, the German Navy announced the completion of an intensive two-week campaign to evaluate the capabilities of the BLUEWHALE autonomous underwater drone (AUV) as part of a process labelled as Operational Experimentation (OPEX).
The trial campaign took place in the Baltic waters, the scene of recent incidents involving the "accidental" cutting of two submarine connection cables between Finland and Germany (C-LION 1) and between Sweden and Lithuania (BCS East-West Interlink). Swedish, German, and Lithuanian authorities are investigating the incident and seem to converge on the likely involvement of the Chinese bulk carrier YI PENG 3, which departed from the Russian port of Ust-Luga.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated on Tuesday that Sweden has asked the ship to enter Swedish territorial waters to facilitate the investigation. The YI PENG is currently anchored in the Kattegat Strait, closely monitored by a THETIS-class patrol vessel and a DIANA-class vessel of the Danish Navy, after being closely followed by another Danish DIANA-class patrol vessel between November 19 and 20.
Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries in collaboration with ATLAS Elektronik, the BLUEWHALE is approximately 11 m long, has a diameter of 1.1 m, and a displacement of 5.5 t, thus fully qualifying as an XLUUV (or better, LDAUV, Large Displacement Autonomous Underwater Vehicle). The underwater drone can operate at a maximum depth of 300 m, has an average speed of 2-3 knots, and an autonomy of 30 days.
Furthermore, the BLUE WHALE can operate from the coast with minimal infrastructure (a drivable quay and a vehicle equipped with a crane) or be deployed from a suitably equipped surface or submarine unit. In addition to carrying out traditional information gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, the BLUEWHALE can detect other underwater vehicles, map the seabed to verify the presence of possible minefields, and patrol maritime areas with critical underwater infrastructure for extended periods.
The BLUWHALE trials during OPEX were conducted in accordance with requirements set by the German Navy and WTD 71, the Bundeswehr's maritime technical evaluation center. Moreover, collaboration with the nearby NATO Centre of Excellence for Operations in Shallow Water, located in Kiel, allowed for the experimental connection of the BLUEWHALE to the Bundesmarine's situational awareness architecture. The latter initiated OPEX as part of a broader initiative aimed at paving the way for the implementation of the general planning "Marine 2035 and Beyond," which includes a naval force structure comprising large, modular underwater drones with high autonomy in addition to traditional submarines.
More specifically, OPEX is the German Navy's framework to rapidly promote technological innovation and its exploitation for operational purposes, evaluating new CONcepts of OPerationsS (CONOPS) under conditions deemed as realistic as possible.
Lastly, regarding the possible acquisition of the BLUEWHALE by Italy, we recall that on March 12, 2024, a draft ministerial decree was transmitted to the competent Committees of the Chamber and Senate for the approval of a program aimed at acquiring 3 exemples of the AUV, but the decree that was then withdrawn in early April.
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