A9-M French Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)

A9-M

French Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)

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Basic Information

Name

A9-M French Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)

Designation

A9-M

Alternate Designation

A9-M

Equipment Type

French Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)

Manufacturer

Exail

Date of Introduction

2013

Description

The A9-M French Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) is a compact, man-portable Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) manufactured by Exail (formerly ECA Group) and designed specifically for naval mine countermeasure (MCM) operations and underwater defense applications. The A9-M represents the military configuration of Exail's A9 platform, engineered with modular architecture for easy maintenance and rapid deployment. Its compact design enables transportation by road and aircraft for overseas missions, making it ideal for rapid response operations. The vehicle can be deployed and recovered by just two personnel using small craft, rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs), or other vessels in approximately 10 minutes. The A9-M can operate as a standalone system or be integrated into Exail's broader Unmanned Mine Countermeasures System (UMIS), which combines the A9-M for mine detection and classification with other systems including: SEASCAN MK2 (ROV for mine identification); K-STER C (mine neutralization system); Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) for mission coordination. The A9-M comes equipped with comprehensive mission planning software that enables pre-mission configuration, real-time monitoring during operations, and post-mission data analysis and report generation.

System

Alternative Designation A9-M

Type French Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)

Builder Exail

Crew Unmanned

Standard Payload Configurations High-definition video camera; Conductivity, Temperature, and Density (CTD) sensor suite; Environmental sensors; Forward-looking sonar for obstacle avoidance; Obstacle-avoidance system; Fault and leak detection equipment; Strobe light; Local remote control and emergency alert systems.

Optional Payloads Ultra-Short Baseline (USBL) tracking systems, interferometric side-scan sonar, and specialized handling equipment.

Navigation Inertial Navigation System (INS) and Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) for precise underwater positioning.

Communication Dual RF and underwater acoustic communication systems, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and optional satellite communication capabilities.

GPS For surface positioning support.

Dimensions

Length 2.0 m

Diameter 0.23 m

Weight 70 kg

Propulsion System

Engine Name INA

Engine Type The A9-M is powered by an energy unit generating a maximum power output of 2.1 kWh.

Engine Power 2.1 kWh

Maximum Range INA

Maximum Speed 5 knots

Nominal Speed 3 knots

Operational Depth 3 to 200 m

Sonar Systems

Side-Scan Sonar The A9-M is equipped with advanced sensors for mine detection and classification. Its primary sonar system is a high-resolution side-scan sonar with the following capabilities: Operating Frequencies: 455 kHz, 600 kHz, or 900 kHz (dual simultaneous operation available); Across-Track Resolution: 2.4 centimeters; Horizontal Beam Width: 0.34 degrees; Swath Range: Approximately 300 meters at 455 kHz and 150 meters at 900 kHz.

Protection

Hull Steel

Mine Countermeasure Capabilities The A9-M is specifically designed for MCM operations with distinctive features for mine warfare: STANAG 1364 Compliance: Meets NATO naval standards for mine countermeasure systems; Low Magnetic Signature: Minimizes electromagnetic signatures to avoid triggering sensitive underwater mines; Low Acoustic Signature: Reduces noise generation during mine survey operations; Mine Classification: Can classify mine objects based on ambient conditions and seabed characteristics.

Image Sources

Notes https://www.exail.com/product/a9-m-autonomous-underwater-vehicle

Details

Country of Origin France

Category Naval

Naval

Classification

Domain

Naval & Littoral

Equipment Status

Active

Dimensions

Length

2 m

Width

0.23 m

Height

—

Weight

70 kg

Operators (1)

France

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