Exail has appointed Royal Navy officer Captain Ben Vickery to a role focused on mine warfare systems development, with an emphasis on the UK market and support for activity overseas.
The company said Vickery will work on mine countermeasures (MCM) and autonomous underwater robotics as it seeks to deepen relationships with naval customers and accelerate adoption of its underwater systems.
Vickery most recently served as Head of the UK Military Diving Capability. According to Exail, his Royal Navy career has included command roles spanning an MCM vessel, coalition surface MCM force command in the Arabian Gulf, and broader responsibility for MCM, future MCM, diving and patrol forces.
Antony Penn, Exail’s MCM commercial director, said Vickery’s operational experience would support the company’s efforts to meet requirements from naval forces as underwater threats evolve.
In a statement, Vickery said he was joining Exail at a time of heightened focus on mine warfare, and pointed to the use of autonomous robotics to reduce the risk to personnel and improve operational efficiency.
