Spartan Scout Explained

-- warships except submarines -->	+Spartan Scout Ship Launched: c.2002 Ship Type: Rigid hull inflatable boat Ship Tonnage: 2 tons Ship Length: 7m (23feet) Ship Capacity: 3000lb payload Ship Sensors: Various electro-optical, infrared; Surface search radar Ship Armament: .50 caliber machine gun

Spartan Scout, an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration, is a crewless surface watercraft, also known as an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) developed by the United States in 2001, and first demonstrated in late 2003. The craft, a rigid hull inflatable boat, weighs 2 tons, and is in length. It has a .50 caliber machine gun, as well as various sensors such as electro-optical and infrared surveillance and surface search radar. The Spartan is capable of carrying a 3000lb payload. According to a press release from the United States Navy, the Spartan Scout will also come in a 11m (36feet) version, capable of carrying a 5000lb payload.^[1]

Although a two-man boat crew is needed to deploy the Spartan Scout, once deployed it is capable of working autonomously or semi-autonomously. During its demonstration deployment, the Spartan Scout was configured for surface surveillance and force protection, although it can potentially be configured for more complex missions.

Sources

Book: Bosworth, Michael L. . Crewless surface watercraft . McGraw-Hill . Yearbook of Science and Technology 2006 . 2006 .

Notes and References

1. News: Spartan Deployed on Gettysburg . Navy News Service . NNS031223-02 . 22 December 2003 . 2006-01-26.