- 2
The SV70 DC, a versatile offshore platform for drone deployment
Sovereignty is a key concern for all nations. Kership offers a solution: a drone carrier vessel. We take a closer look at the SV70 DC (for Drone Carrier).
SV70 DC
© Kership
The company, a joint venture between Piriou (55%) and Naval Group (45%), came up with the idea of modelling the vessel on French BSAOM and BASM support and assistance ships, which have already been tried and tested at sea (particularly in the French overseas territories in the case of the BSAOM), and to fit out a 250m² aft deck as a multi-purpose platform.
“This open space can accommodate a payload, whether dedicated to mine warfare, seabed operations or any other specific mission,” explains Franck Blanchard, product manager at Kership. “This is a response to the specific needs of most coastal states that wish to protect their maritime and underwater domains.” France published its ministerial strategy for seabed control in February 2022.
The protection of submarine cables and landing points, including fibre-optic cables which carry 99% of digital data traffic, are among the key challenges. But the SV70 may be the right solution for protecting critical underwater infrastructure (CUI), which also includes pipelines, as well as firefighting support and all state operations at sea (combating trafficking, illegal fishing, search and rescue (SAR), etc.). For mine warfare, the SV70 offers an alternative to a dedicated minehunter, according to Blanchard.
Swiss Army knife
Depending on government requirements, the aft deck can be fitted with a launch and recovery system, davits, a gantry, containers or a drone landing area.
The hold can accommodate a maintenance workshop for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and drones, an equipment storage area, a hyperbaric chamber and a room for divers. On board, accommodation capacity has been increased to 50 people, comprising the 18 crew members and around 30 personnel dedicated to the chosen mission. This offshore patrol vessel (OPV) also offers facilities for a tactical staff unit.
The vessel is equipped with a data centre that enables its crew to process, store and transmit data. In particular, the company offers the drone mission management and data processing system developed by Naval Group: the Steeris Mission System. However, each client country can have its own sovereign systems installed on board.
Kership hopes that all these capabilities and the modularity of this veritable “Swiss Army knife” will appeal to many countries. The vessel is being offered “at a moderate cost”, according to Franck Blanchard. Depending on the purchasing country’s organisational structure, the drone carrier can be deployed by navies, customs services, maritime authorities and so on…
A scale model is on display at the Kership stand, and a dedicated keynote presentation will be given there on 5 November.
- Aude Leroy
