Special Report: Singapore's BeeX targets autonomous mine-countermeasure operations after US Navy challenge

BeeX's A.ikanbilis AUV during undersea mine inspection. (BeeX)

Singapore-based autonomous underwater systems developer BeeX is seeking to expand the role of autonomy in naval mine-countermeasure (MCM) operations following its participation in a recent US Navy (USN) technology challenge organised by the US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).

The Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Modernization Prize Challenge aimed to identify vendors offering mature technologies capable of reacquiring and neutralising underwater mines using modular, communication-resilient, and rapidly deployable unmanned systems.

According to BeeX, its autonomous drones were evaluated for their ability to neutralise mines on the seabed. Following the evaluation, the company received a prize award and is now progressing towards integration with the USN.

BeeX Chief Technology Officer Goh Eng Wei told Janes in October that the competition was launched in June as part of a USN modernisation effort to address capability gaps in MCM operations. The solicitation was open to organisations of all sizes, ranging from start-ups to major defence contractors.

Goh said the programme provided an opportunity for smaller technology companies to compete alongside established defence firms on a more level playing field.

“We were going up against big multinational corporations that have already won multiple US Navy contracts,” he added. “We approached the challenge with a very disruptive approach that we believed could solve the operational problem in an innovative way.”

During the challenge, BeeX's drones demonstrated their ability to reacquire and neutralise various underwater mine threats from a safe stand-off distance, the company said. The drones also demonstrated a complete reacquire-to-engage kill chain over high-latency, low-bandwidth, and over-the-horizon communication links, as well as the ability to reacquire moored mines while operating untethered, it added.