美提升無人水面載具執勤能量

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辯護者號配備可拖曳式無人加油系統，為T-38輸送燃料。（取自DVIDS網站）

美國海軍近期測試運用拖曳式無人加油裝置，並多次在海上成功為無人水面載具（USV）執行加油作業，為無人系統海上補給能力建立重要測試里程碑。相關技術未來可望進一步應用於無人船隊，延長USV持續執勤時間，提升其長時間前進部署能力。

The U.S. Navy has recently tested a towable unmanned refueling system, successfully conducting multiple at-sea refueling operations for an unmanned surface vessel (USV). The trials mark an important milestone for maritime resupply of unmanned systems and could eventually help extend USV mission endurance and support longer-duration forward deployments.

美國戰爭部指出，「海軍航空作戰中心武器分部」（NAWCWD）8月在維吉尼亞州附近海域展開相關測試，由「辯護者號」（USNS Vindicator，TSV 5）訓練支援艦搭載「Sealartec」公司研發的「可拖曳式捕獲與連接裝置」（Towable Capture and Connection Device, TCCD）無人加油系統，與T-38「魔鬼魚」（Devil Ray）無人船進行海上驗證。

The U.S. Department of War said the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) conducted the trials in August in waters near Virginia. The exercise employed the training support ship USNS Vindicator (TSV 5), equipped with Sealartec’s Towable Capture and Connection Device (TCCD) unmanned refueling system, to conduct maritime trials with the T-38 Devil Ray USV.

測試期間，TCCD與T-38共完成數十次捕獲、加油及釋放演練，並進行約100次連接測試。系統最終成功向T-38輸送總計400加侖、約1514公升燃料，驗證拖曳式裝置在海上環境下執行無人船加油作業的可行性與作業效能。

During the trials, the TCCD and T-38 completed dozens of capture, refueling and release exercises, along with approximately 100 connection tests. The system successfully transferred a total of 400 gallons, or about 1,514 liters, of fuel to the T-38, demonstrating the feasibility and operational performance of the towable system in an at-sea unmanned refueling scenario.

支援「藍水儀表」計畫　避免無人船因補給中斷任務

Supporting the Blue Water Instrumentation Program Without Interrupting Missions

報導指出，海上無人加油能力可望滿足NAWCWD「藍水儀表」（Blue Water Instrumentation, BWI）計畫的相關需求。該計畫要求美軍在執行先進長程武器測試期間，讓無人船及搭載的感測器能夠長時間部署於武器飛行路徑周邊海域，持續蒐集測試所需的重要數據。

Reports indicate that at-sea unmanned refueling could help meet requirements associated with NAWCWD’s Blue Water Instrumentation (BWI) program. During advanced long-range weapons testing, the program requires USVs and their onboard sensors to remain in waters surrounding weapon flight paths for extended periods, continuously collecting critical test data.

若無人船需要返回基地或由有人艦艇執行補給，可能導致測試任務出現空檔。透過拖曳式無人加油系統，USV可在海上直接獲得燃料補給，減少因補給而中斷任務的需求，同時降低有人艦艇投入海上補給任務所承擔的負擔與風險。

If USVs must return to base or rely on manned vessels for conventional resupply, gaps could occur in ongoing test missions. A towable unmanned refueling system would allow USVs to receive fuel at sea, reducing the need to interrupt missions for resupply while also lowering the burden and risk placed on manned vessels.

無人船可望前進高風險海域　逐步邁向完全自主加油

USVs Could Operate in Higher-Risk Areas as the System Moves Toward Full Autonomy

美國艦隊司令部表示，這項技術未來有望強化艦隊備戰狀態與整體作戰效能，並協助無人船前進部署至更具風險的海域。由於無人平台不需直接承載人員，搭配遠距補給能力後，可進一步降低有人艦艇進入高威脅區域執行支援任務的風險。

The U.S. Fleet Forces Command said the technology could eventually strengthen fleet readiness and overall operational effectiveness while enabling unmanned vessels to deploy farther forward into higher-risk areas. Because unmanned platforms do not carry personnel, combining them with remote refueling capabilities could reduce the risks associated with sending manned vessels into high-threat areas for support missions.

「Sealartec」表示，公司將進一步運用本次測試所蒐集的數據，持續改進TCCD系統，使其由目前的遙控加油作業逐步轉型為完全自主化運作。若後續技術發展順利，無人船未來將可在降低人力介入的情況下，自主完成海上捕獲、連接與燃料補給，進一步提升無人系統長時間執勤與前進部署能力。

Sealartec said it will use data collected during the trials to further refine the TCCD system, with the goal of transitioning from remotely controlled refueling operations toward fully autonomous operation. If development progresses as planned, future USVs could autonomously conduct capture, connection and refueling operations with reduced human involvement, further extending the endurance and forward-deployment capabilities of unmanned maritime systems.