US unveils end-to-end autonomous system to detect and neutralize naval mines The portable SIGURD platform pairs mine detection with autonomous neutralization and is already undergoing government testing. Read Next: Russia's new rifle calibre bullets disintegrate into 3 mid-flight, can hit high-speed dronesAs naval mines pose growing risks across strategic waterways, U.S. defense startup Vatn Systems has introduced a compact autonomous system designed to tackle the threat. Called SIGURD, the new platform gives military operators a portable way to find underwater mines and eliminate them without relying on large, dedicated mine warfare vessels. The system is based on Vatn’s Skelmir S6 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). It focuses on one of naval warfare’s most demanding missions, where clearing a single minefield can consume significant time, manpower, and resources. Vatn says government customers are already testing SIGURD, and the company expects the system to become deployable later this year. Tackling underwater mines Naval mines remain one of the most cost-effective weapons in maritime conflict. A relatively inexpensive mine can disrupt commercial shipping or delay naval operations for days. Removing those threats is often far more difficult than placing them. Conventional mine countermeasure missions usually depend on specialized ships and highly trained explosive ordnance disposal teams. Those operations can also take considerable time before waterways reopen. Vatn believes autonomous underwater vehicles can shorten that process. The company designed SIGURD as a man-portable system that operators can deploy directly into contested waters. Chief Executive Officer Nelson Mills said demand has increased as military planners place greater focus on securing critical maritime chokepoints. Two mission variants Vatn offers SIGURD in two separate configurations. Operators can deploy each version individually. They can also combine them during a complete mine countermeasure mission. More from Military See AllThe first variant searches for underwater mines. It carries a side-scan sonar