Wednesday, December 03, 2008

AN/BLQ-11

Also Known As
LMRS (Long-term Mine Reconnaissance System)

Origin
United States of America

Contractor/s
Boeing

Description: The AN/BLQ-11 is a long-term mine reconnaissance system designed to be deployed from nuclear-powered attack submarines such as Los Angeles class. The BLQ-11 is being developed by Boeing on behalf of the US Navy. A single system comprises a 60-ft (approx. 20 meters) robotic arm, two unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), shipboard deployed equipment and non-deployed shore support equipment. The BLQ-11 UUV is launched out of the submarine through a torpedo tube and recovered docking with the robotic arm which takes care of getting it back through the launch torpedo tube.

The AN/BLQ-11 can stay on station surveying, detecting and gathering data on underwater objects for more than 12 hours. The primary role of this fully autonomous UUV is to effectively detect mines that could threaten submarines or surface ships. After a launch and recovery cycle the operators retrieve the data collected and can prepare the UUV for another mission.

In January 2007, the US Navy and Boeing completed the first series of at-sea testing demonstrating the ability to perform homing and docking with an underway submarine. In February 2007, the US Navy and Boeing started another series of at-sea testing in Puget Sound, Washington, Norfolk, Virginia, and the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center near Andros Island, Bahamas. The AN/BLQ-11 is likely to become the first submarine-based UUV.

Specifications
Accommodation: Unmanned

Performance: Endurance 12 hours

News
Boeing and US Navy Demonstrate UUV Recovery by Submerged Underway Submarine

Operators

United States of America

Image Gallery

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, November 22, 2008

Leave Feedback >>