Adelaide SME Acacia Systems is poised to assume a key role in the ongoing integration and simulation efforts for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) SEA 1905 Tranche 1 – Maritime Mine Countermeasures (MCM) program, pending Exail’s successful bid.
Exail CEO Dominique Giannoni recently opened the company’s Advanced Centre for Mine Countermeasures systems Software Integration and Simulation in La Garde, France. This centre will serve as a blueprint for an Adelaide-based software reference, support and integration platform.
Giannoni, who was in Sydney last week for Indo Pacific 2023, said the new centre based in France demonstrated Exail’s commitment to leading the future of rapid integration of autonomous MCM technology.
“We are ready to deliver third generation MCM capability to Australia alongside our Australian partners and this centre symbolises our commitment to further transforming autonomous technology and enhancing of the capabilities of our mine countermeasures and military survey systems,” he said.
“Our mission is to provide state-of-the-art but also cost-effective solutions, thereby ensuring that we deliver unparalleled value to our customers like the RAN.”
Exail is collaborating closely with several local Australian industry partners including UGL, Solutions from Silicon (SfS) and Acacia Systems in its effort to secure SEA 1905 and then swiftly integrate the autonomous technology into the RAN.
“We are ready to receive the necessary know-how to maintain Exail’s core UMISOFTTM Mission Management software,” said Acacia Systems CEO Horden Wiltshire.
“Acacia will be trained on the French-based centre for MCM software integration and simulation which, in the short term, will support the major NATO MCM projects Exail has secured in Europe for the Belgian and Dutch navies. Acacia and Australia will be able to leverage the learnings from the introduction into service of these capabilities and bring this experience to the capability being deployed in Australia.
“Acacia has been encouraged by Exail’s commitment to transfer this advanced tool technology to Australia and the engagement Acacia has already experienced at a technical level with the Exail team, which augers well for future implementation of the capability.”
Exail’s technology ushers in a new era of progress with the state-of-the-art facility introducing an array of advanced features, such as dynamic drone modelling and improved cyber security features, that are set to revolutionise mine countermeasures and military survey systems.
Further information about the Advanced Centre for Software Integration and Simulation (ACSIS)
- Software Validation: The centre provides a highly realistic virtual environment that empowers engineers to fully complete Integration, Verification, Validation and Qualification (IVVQ) testing for all software used in the UMISOFTTM system as well as for periodic updates, upgrades and patches. Further, it also provides a testing and evaluation capability for new and improved autonomous drones that may be added to, or replace existing, UMIS system drones. This validation capability ensures optimal software performance and minimises risk by reducing unanticipated errors during live operations.
- Advanced Mission Simulation: Engineers at the ACSIS can simulate MCM Missions, scrutinising the behaviour of UMIS system drones in various environments, sea and weather conditions. External and animated 3-dimensional drone views, as well as video, radar and sonar generated views enhance rigorous testing to ensure mission-critical systems excel under real-world conditions. In particular, it enables validation of all encryption and authentication, log and administration features to meet rigorous cyber security requirements.
- UMIS delivery test and evaluation (T&E): The ACSIS also provides a delivery testing, evaluation and certification capability prior to customer acceptance to guarantee clients are delivered safe, fit for purpose and operationally effective MCMs.
- Centre of Expertise: ACSIS serves as an expert hub to replay actual operations, demonstrations and training sessions in order to develop best practices for MCM missions including optimising all aspects of planning, execution and data analysis (detect-classify-identify-neutralise). Further it also serves to assess procedures for future drone additions that will continue to enhance the UMIS system capability.
- Modular solutions integration: A modular design philosophy is key to the UMIS system architecture. The centre facilitates the efficient development of advanced modular solutions for various mission scenarios by assessing real-time performance of various toolboxes (combinations of drones), threats and environments (e.g. shallow water, shore-based, open sea, river, ports and canals operations).
- Cost-Efficiency: By providing a hi-fidelity computer-simulated environment for testing, training and simulation, the ACSIS substantially reduces speed to capability, development and sea trial costs, greatly enhancing overall value for Exail’s clients.
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