Dozens of autonomous vehicles will operate along the Troia Peninsula and in the Sesimbra area between the 11th and 27th of September, during the 10th project of the Recognized Environmental Picture (REP) exercise.
The REP is one of the largest unmanned maritime systems experimentation exercises in Europe and is organized by the Portuguese Navy, the University of Porto Underwater Systems and Technology Laboratory (FEUP) and NATO’s Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE).
This exercise aims to evaluate and test the state-of-the-art network of unmanned vehicle systems through large-scale experimental performances.
Operations will be carried and evaluated for more than two weeks and new technological advances, procedures and tactics will be developed regarding unmanned vehicles from the Navy, allied countries and other partner entities involved in the operating scenarios.
All action takes place according to specific mission plans, outlined according to the requirements of each operational scenario. The Portuguese Navy will participate through the Álvares Cabral frigate, the Figueira da Foz patrol vessel, the Almirante Gago Coutinho and D. Carlos I hydrographic vessels, the Andromeda hydrofoil, the Pegasus surveillance boat, the Tridente submarine, a detachment of Sapper Divers dedicated to mine warfare, a Marine force and the Special Actions Detachment. In total, more than 850 military and civilians from the Portuguese navy and 10 allied and friendly countries will be engaged.
The REP happened on an annual basis since 2010, each year increasing the number of national and multinational companies that are integrated in the experimental exercise aimed at technological advancement in the unmanned vehicle systems, obtaining tangible results not only in the technological and scientific aspects, but also in the field of security and defence.
