| Echo Ranger | |
|---|---|
| Class overview | |
| Name: | Echo Ranger |
| Builders: | Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) |
| Operators: |
|
| Preceded by: | ORISIS |
| In commission: | September 30, 2004 |
| General characteristics Echo Ranger | |
| Type: | Remotely Operated Vehicle |
| Displacement: | 5,308 kilograms (11,702 lb)) |
| Length: | 5.5 m (18 ft) |
| Beam: | 1.27 m (4 ft 2 in) |
| Height: | 1.27 m (4 ft 2 in) |
| Propulsion: | Thrusters |
| Speed: | 8 knots (15 km/h) maximum, 3 knots (5.6 km/h) to 6 knots (11 km/h) normal operating speed |
| Endurance: | 28 hours (can be configured for 30-day missions) |
| Test depth: | 3,050 m (10,010 ft) |
The Echo Ranger is a marine remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROUV or ROV) built by Boeing.
Originally built in 2001 to capture high-resolution sonar images of sea beds for oil and gas industry companies, such as the Exxon Mobil Corporation, the Echo Ranger has been undergoing testing for possible use by the military. Among its possible uses are to stalk targets in enemy waters, patrol local harbors for national security threats, and scour ocean floors to detect environmental hazards. The submersible weights more than five tons, is 18.5 feet long and is able to descend to 10,000 feet.
Sources[]
- http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-drone-submarine-20110820,0,6138571.story
- http://auvac.org/platforms/view/127
- http://www.boeing.com/Features/2011/08/bds_echo_ranger_08_17_11.html
The original article can be found at Echo Ranger and the edit history here.