The Royal Navy is bolstering its underwater surveillance with the 'Lura' system, an AI-driven technology developed by Helsing. This deployment addresses growing concerns about Russian naval operations and potential threats to underwater infrastructure.
Lura utilizes autonomous underwater gliders equipped with advanced acoustic sensors to detect and classify underwater sounds with precision. These drones, initially designed for tracking whale migrations, can operate for up to three months, silently monitoring the oceans. When a suspicious signal is detected, the glider surfaces and transmits data to a command center for analysis.
The AI behind Lura analyzes acoustic signals, distinguishing between different vessels, even within the same class. This is achieved using a vast database of acoustic signatures collected over 56 years. The system analyzes and classifies acoustic data faster than human operators, enabling near real-time threat detection. The Royal Navy aims to deploy Lura in strategic maritime passages to protect critical underwater infrastructure.