英美完成全球首例A400M空投無人艇　強化遠程海上投射能力

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K3 SCOUT 無人機透過 UMCADS 投放平台進行空投(圖片取自Kraken)

英國Kraken Technology Group與美國Capewell公司合作，成功完成全球首次由A400M運輸機空投無人水面載具（USV）測試，驗證無人艇可不經港口或碼頭部署，直接由運輸機投送至目標海域。

UK firm Kraken Technology Group and Connecticut-based Capewell have teamed up to pull off the first-ever airdrop of an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) from an A400M transport aircraft.

K3 SCOUT完成多次空投　落水後立即執行任務

測試期間，Kraken旗下K3 SCOUT無人艇搭配Capewell開發的通用海上載具空投系統(UMCADS)，自約396公尺（1,300英尺）高度完成多次空投，並在海象4級（Sea State 4）、浪高約1.25至2.5公尺的環境下成功入水。

此次展示結合K3 SCOUT空投套件與UMCADS可重複使用的降落傘托盤系統，使無人艇落水後即可投入任務，大幅提升皇家海軍部署無人海上載具的速度、範圍與作戰彈性。

During a series of tests at altitudes of 1,300 feet (396 meters) in Sea State 4 conditions.

The demo combined the USV’s optional airdrop kit with UMCADS’ reusable parachute pallet system.

The tests confirm K3 SCOUT’s ability to be inserted directly by air and enter the water ready for operation, expanding the speed, range, and flexibility with which the Royal Navy can deploy uncrewed maritime platforms.

新型分離系統同步亮相　提升投放可靠性

本次測試亦首次驗證全新IN-Release電機式分離系統，可在無人艇與降落傘托盤分離時提供同步且可靠的釋放機制，確保空投過程安全穩定，未來亦可依不同任務需求搭配各類海上或陸上裝備使用。

The development also debuted a new IN-Release system, a configurable electro-mechanical release mechanism designed to enable reliable, synchronized load disconnect for a vessel separating from its parachute pallet.

六天完成四次空投　驗證系統成熟度

Capewell表示，本次驗證除成功整合複雜酬載外，也展現UMCADS高度模組化特性，可快速調整支援不同任務裝備。整個測試期間僅用六個工作天，即以同一艘無人艇及同一套平台完成四次實際空投，驗證系統具備重複運用能力。

Mark Lavender, director of business development and training at Capewell, said the campaign validated the integration of a complex payload with UMCADS while showing how easily the system can be reconfigured for other mission-essential equipment.

“This was further validated in that we conducted 4 live airdrops in 6 working days with the same boat and platform during this campaign,” he said.

英國皇家海軍推動Project Beehive　加速無人艦隊部署

Kraken執行長馬爾．克里斯（Mal Crease）表示，此次驗證證明K3 SCOUT可由軍用運輸機快速投送至具威脅或難以抵達的海域，並立即投入作戰，未來將持續與合作夥伴及英國皇家海軍共同開發更多創新作戰能力。

本次測試由英國皇家海軍「蜂巢計畫」（Project Beehive）提供支援，該計畫旨在加速建構由有人與無人平台組成的混合艦隊，提升未來海上兵力投射與分散部署能力。

“Working in partnership with Capewell and the Royal Navy, we have demonstrated that K3 SCOUT can be rapidly deployed directly from a military transport aircraft into contested or difficult-to-access waters ready for operation,” said Kraken CEO and Founder Mal Crease.

The tests were supported by the Royal Navy as part of Project Beehive, an initiative to accelerate the deployment of a hybrid naval fleet.