The SWAT-SHOAL project

Shoal cooperation between manned and unmanned SHOAL submersible vehicles.

The SWAT-SHOAL project is being implemented under the second edition of the European Defence Fund (EDF) which is a European Union programme set up to finance joint research and development work undertaken by industrial-scientific consortia on topics related to military equipment and defence technologies. The budget for the SWAT-SHOAL project, selected for funding in the Underwater Warfare category, is EUR 25 million.

The SWAT-SHOAL project will focus on exploring technology to improve cooperation between the operator and manned and unmanned underwater vehicles and between unmanned vehicles cooperating within a shoal (group of underwater robots).           

The aim of the project is to develop and implement the concept of a “System of Systems” (SoS) which will use vehicles of different types operating on the basis of a so-called “swarm” or group of teams, but acting as an integral unit.  Putting such a system into practice will increase efficiency and effectiveness of the group involved in the execution of various types of operations, such as reconnaissance missions, detection of naval mines or support for landing operations. Particular emphasis will be placed on innovative technologies for swarm cooperation, underwater communications and autonomous operation to enhance versatility and future capabilities of the navy in the submarine domain.

The scope of the project covers various phases of the mission (shoal deployment, initial self-organisation, path planning, task execution and shoal reorganisation), as well as integration with Command-and-Control Systems, including interactions with sono-buoys, frogmen and support vehicles. The main phases of the SWAT-SHOAL project are the definition of an operational concept, research into technologies and validation through simulation and demonstration in a sea body.

Łukasiewicz-PIAP will be responsible for coordinating a package of tasks to develop and implement a simulation environment to support validation and demonstration. In addition,  Łukasiewicz-PIAP will participate in the development of the system architecture, interoperability analysis, shoal location of vehicles, formation maintenance/reconfiguration, collision avoidance, navigation, short-range communication and immersive user interfaces.

Implementation period: 01/12/2023 – 30/11/2026

Project type: defence research project (EDF Research Action)

Consortium budget: EUR 25,000,000.00 EUR

Coordinator:

  1. NAVANTIA, S.A., S.M.E. (Spain)

Partners:

  1. SENER AEROESPACIAL, S.A. (Spain),
  2. GMV AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE S.A.U. (Spain),
  3. NAVAL GROUP, SA (France),
  4. FINCANTIERI NEXTECH S.p.A. Italy
  5. KONGSBERG DEFENCE & AEROSPACE AS, Ltd. (Norway)
  6. SOCIEDAD ANÓNIMA DE ELECTRONICA SUBMARINA, S.M.E. (Spain)
  7. POLISH NAVAL ACADEMY (Poland),
  8. ŁUKASIEWICZ RESEARCH NETWORK – INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR AUTOMATION AND MEASUREMENTS (PIAP) – Poland
  9. FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V. (Germany),
  10. NAVAL GROUP BELGIUM SA (Belgium),
  11. DEVELOGIC GMBH (Germany),
  12. ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GMBH (Germany),
  13. SAAB AB (publ) (Sweden),
  14. SOTIRIA Technology IKE (Greece),
  15. Prisma Electronics ABEE (Greece),
  16. CAFA Tech OU (Estonia),
  17. ADYTA, Lda (Portugal),
  18. Bundeswehr Technical Center for Ships and Naval Weapons, Maritime Technology and Research (Germany),
  19. THE SHIPYARDS’ AND MARITIME EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATION OF EUROPE (‘SEA EUROPE’) (Belgium).