Mine Warfare Week Concludes on CIMSEC

By Dmitry Filipoff

Last week CIMSEC featured articles submitted in response to our Call for Articles issued in partnership with the U.S. Navy’s Program Executive Office for Unmanned and Small Combatants. From unmanned minehunting systems to swarming warfighting concepts, authors offered a glimpse into the future of how mine warfare could evolve. 

Below are the articles that featured during the topic week. We thank the authors for their excellent contributions. 

Meeting the Mine Warfare Challenge with Unmanned Systems” by Andrea Daolio

“By harnessing unmanned systems and machine learning, the U.S. Navy can bridge the gap between its own mine countermeasures capability and the growing mine warfare threat.”

The U.S. Navy Needs AWNIS for Mine Warfare” by LT Colin Barnard, USN

“One such doctrine is the Allied Worldwide Navigational Information System, or AWNIS, which is crucial for conducting military operations at sea, especially mine warfare, while minimizing disruption to merchant shipping. This crucial doctrine can help modify and reroute sea lines of communications as they become threatened and endure combat operations. But unfortunately, the U.S. Navy knows very little about this system, its processes, or its merits.”

Embracing an Unmanned Solution for the U.S. Navy’s Mine Warfare Renaissance” by U.H. “Jack” Rowley and Craig Cates

“In our collective Navy experience—spanning half a century—this is not a new issue for the U.S. Navy, but one it has struggled with for decades. We contend it is not for lack of want, or even a lack of funding (although MCM resourcing has lagged other procurement priorities), but rather, not having adequately mature technology to address the challenge.”

Swarming to Solve the Navy’s MCM Problems” by Dr. Joseph Walsh III

“In nature, everywhere we look, we see large groups of creatures that cooperate with each other to complete sophisticated tasks. For some problems, such as search and detection, their methods are far superior to our own. We suggest mimicking nature to develop a swarm-based approach with the ultimate goal being the development of advanced MCM capabilities.”

A Pervasive and Persistent Approach to Mine Countermeasures” by Dr. Keith Aliberti and Mike Kobold

“The U.S. Navy has developed a vast array of novel technologies to counter the ever evolving mine threat and has made great advancements in its MCM capabilities. We contend, however, that in order to make revolutionary advancements in our ability to counter mines, a shift from direct, operational/tactical-level thinking to indirect, strategic-level thinking needs to occur.”

Dmitry Filipoff is CIMSEC’s Director of Online Content. Contact him at Content@cimsec.org

Featured Image: Featured Image:  SOUTH CHINA SEA (July 3, 2019) Mineman 2nd Class Collin Harvey uses vehicle handling system (VHS) to recover a mine neutralization vehicle (MNV) aboard the Avenger-class mine countermeasure ship USS Pioneer (MCM 9). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Corbin Shea)

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