Underwater drone R7 Compact ROV: Belgian Navy tests Exail system at “Spanish Minex”

The Belgian Navy has tested its new R7 Compact ROV underwater drone under realistic operational conditions at the mine countermeasures exercise “Spanish Minex”. The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from manufacturer Exail is compact and locates underwater mines quickly and precisely. Six units have been in service since April, complementing the REMUS drones already in use.

Small, agile and precise: what sets the underwater drone apart

At 78 centimetres long and weighing only 32 kilograms, the R7 is particularly easy to handle. It can be deployed with little effort from a ship or directly from the shore. While the REMUS autonomously scans pre-programmed areas by sonar, the R7 is controlled manually. A specific area can thus be examined in a targeted way via an intuitive console with live video and sonar.

With its rapid response and extremely precise operation, the R7 is ideal for identifying suspicious objects – especially when no diving team is available. According to an official press release, it complements the capabilities of the REMUS “optimally”.

During the exercise, the R7 was tested on several types of practice mines, including Manta and Rockan mines, as well as on a shipwreck. It transmits its images in real time via a 300-metre fibre-optic cable directly to the operators on board.

From contact to identification in less time

The drone proved convincing in operation: because the images are evaluated directly, suspicious contacts can be dealt with quickly without having to deploy divers. In this way, larger areas can be secured faster and more efficiently.

Warrant Officer René heads the Very Shallow Water team responsible for the tests. He stresses: “We have to keep pace with technology and also have the courage to innovate in order to stay relevant.”

Modular design for future tasks

Thanks to its digital architecture, additional sensors or gripper arms can be fitted to the R7 in modular form. These can be used, for example, to clear obstacles or recover objects – especially when a REMUS drone is stuck. The R7 can also be fitted with systems for the remote detonation of explosives.

This high degree of flexibility makes the R7 suitable not only for today's missions but also ideally equipped for future requirements in the maritime domain. Investments in technology like this keep the Belgian Navy on course as a competent and modern actor in naval warfare.