Imagine a material that wicks sound across its surface like water droplets sliding over a windowpane. For submarines, such a coating would mean an entirely new way to slip past sonar without detection as sound waves pass harmlessly around the vessel.
Physicist Baile Zhang and his colleagues at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore think they may have found a way to design such a coating, which could work for any 3D shape—sharp corners included. In a new research paper published in the journal Physical Review Letters, he describes why this theoretical material could work and what you'd need to make it.
How it works
Zhang says that when sound waves like sonar hit his proposed coating, they strike an acoustically tuned material called a phononic crystal. That crystal bends the waves so that when they bounce off the hull, they loops around—smacking right back onto the surface to bounce over and over again. Zhang likens the process to a professional soccer player curving the ball.
Theoretically, the shape of the material you've coated doesn't matter. As you can see above, the curving sound waves will bounce past sharp corners and flat surfaces alike.
Zhang says that while this new surface is still just a theoretical prospect, he sees no reason why he and his colleagues can't build and begin experimenting on the coating within the next few months.
As for the future promise it might hold for sonar camouflage: "In principle, if a sound wave can be smoothly guided around the submarine without reflection, it can escape detection from sonar, because the sonar works by detecting deflected signals," he says.
Many ways to hide a sub
Avoiding sonar detection is just a game of making sure you don't let incoming sound-waves bounce back to where they came from, Zhang ssays. That means there are plenty of other (at least theoretical) cloaking methods that also could do the job. So how does Zhang's approach compare?
Valentine Leroy, a physicist at Paris Diderot University in France, has developed a different method of sub camouflage. He's proposed a way to almost perfectly sound-proof a submersible. "The general idea goes back to Germany during WWII," Leroy says, "the idea then was to use some coating material like rubber to dampen the sonar [bounce-back]," making a submarine harder to detect, he says.
Rather than rubber, Leroy found that that a thin sheet of bubble-filled material (think of it like Bubble Wrap) works even better. Why? When the sonar wave smacks the bubbly coating, the energy of the wave is transformed into the vibration of the tiny bubbles, which which soaks up and disperses sound. In practice, a 4-millimeter film of such a material could dampen a sonar signal by as much as 99 percent, Leroy says.
There are other even crazier sounding ideas for acoustic camouflage. One concept would use an array of underwater speakers blast back a synchronized sound wave (with the exact opposite amplitude) whenever sonar hits a ship. In theory, the deflected sonar would be cancelled out into silence.
To help augment ACTUV’s capability for sensing and classifying other vessels, and to reduce reliance on radar as ACTUV’s primary sensor, DARPA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) about currently available technologies that could help ACTUV and future unmanned surface vessels perceive and classify nearby ships and other objects.
DARPA is specifically interested in sensor systems and image-processing hardware and software that use passive (electro-optical/infrared, or EO/IR) or non-radar active (e.g., light detection and ranging, or LIDAR) approaches. The goal is to develop reliable, robust onboard systems that could detect and track nearby surface vessels and potential navigation hazards, classify those objects’ characteristics and provide input to ACTUV’s autonomy software to facilitate correct COLREGs behaviors.
“We’re looking for test-ready, multi-sensor approaches that push the boundaries of today’s automated sensing systems for unmanned surface vessels,” said Scott Littlefield, DARPA program manager. “Enhancing the ability of these kinds of vessels to sense their environment in all weather and traffic conditions, day or night, would significantly advance our ability to conduct a range of military missions.”
The RFI invites short responses (5 pages or fewer) that explore some or all of the following technical areas: » Maritime Perception Sensors: Any combination of non-radar-based imaging and tracking methods, including, but not limited to, passive and active imagers in the visible and infrared wavelengths and Class 1 Laser Rangefinder (LRF) and Flash LIDAR to image ships during day or night in the widest variety of environmental conditions, including haze, fog and rain, over ranges from 4 km to 15 km » Maritime Perception Software: Algorithms and software for detection, tracking and classification of ships by passive optical or non-radar active imagers » Classification Software for Day Shapes/Navigation Lights: Algorithms and software to support detection, tracking and classification of day shapes and navigation lights—standard tools that vessels use to communicate a ship’s position and status—by using passive optical or non-radar active imagers
DARPA’s Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) program seeks to develop a new type of unmanned surface vessel that could independently track adversaries’ ultra-quiet diesel-electric submarines over thousands of miles. One of the challenges that the ACTUV program is addressing is development of autonomous behaviors for complying with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, known as COLREGS. Substantial progress has been made in developing and implementing those behaviors. Currently, ACTUV’s system for sensing other vessels is based on radar, which provides a “90 percent solution” for detecting other ships. However, radar is less suitable for classification of the type of other vessels, for example determining whether the vessel is a powered vessel or a sailboat. Additionally, one of the requirements of COLREGS is to maintain “a proper lookout by sight and hearing.”
L’état-major de la marine a prononcé ce 13 mars une première capacité opérationnelle de tir de MU90, une torpille intégrée à l’armement des NH90 NFH. Le Caïman marine devient ainsi « un hélicoptère de combat ASM à part entière », selon la Marine nationale. Le premier vol d’expérimentation avait eu lieu en septembre 2013, ouvrant ainsi la voie à la phase d’évaluation technico-opérationnelle. Une première série de tirs avait été effectuée en février 2014. Le NH90 NFH a été commandé à 27 exemplaires par la Marine nationale, treize ont d’ores et déjà été livrés. L’hélicoptère de NHIndustries est notamment destiné aux missions de combat naval (lutte anti-sous-marine, lutte antisurface) ou de soutien (SAR, transport de troupes…). Il est embarqué sur des plateformes de type FREMM ou FDA (frégate de défense aérienne) et occasionnellement sur le porte-avions, les BPC ou les TCD (transport de chalands de débarquement). La torpille légère MU90 est développée par le GIEIE franco-italien Eurotorp, composé de DCNS, Thales et WASS (groupe Finmeccanica). En service depuis 2008, elle peut équiper aussi bien des frégates (F70, Horizon, FREMM) que des hélicoptères (NH90, Lynx) ou des avions de PATMAR (Atlantique 2).
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said claims that a test area in Scotland for Royal Navy submarines has been expanded without consultation are untrue.
SNP MSP Dave Thompson said it was his understanding local fishermen had not been consulted on extending the ranges between Raasay and the mainland.
Fishing is banned in an area six miles (10km) long and three miles (6km) wide in the Raasay Ranges.
The MoD said consultation on a planned expansion was due to begin in June.
A spokesman said: "It is absolutely not true to say that the MoD has already doubled the size of the protected areas of Raasay Ranges.
"Consultation with local sea users regarding the proposed expansion of the protected area is due to begin in June 2015 as part of the MoD byelaw review, led by the Ministry of Defence's Defence Infrastructure Organisation.
"No final decisions will be made before then."
Exclusion zone
The ranges in the Inner Sound between the Isle of Raasay and Applecross on the mainland form part of the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre (Butec).
Butec provides a sonar and weapon system test area for the Royal Navy crews of Vanguard-class nuclear weapon submarines and Astute and Trafalgar-class attack submarines.
Fishing is prohibited in the area and fishing boats and other vessels can only remain in the Butec test area for as long as it is necessary for them to pass through the Inner Sound.
The submarine ranges are run from a site near Kyle of Lochalsh.
Earlier this week, Mr Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said the ranges' exclusion zone was to be expanded to the shorelines of the Inner Sound.
He told BBC Scotland: "I have no problem with them (MoD) putting in greater investment and developing the area.
"But if they wish to expand the restricted area, which will stop other people from earning a living, then any extra benefit to the local community will be totally negated."
Patrick H. 's insight:
L'article qui a fait réagir le MoD a été publié hier :
At NAVDEX 2015 naval defense exhibition currently held in Abu Dhabi, Thales is showcasing its latest sonar solutions: - The SeeMapper, a turnkey system providing continuous, high-resolution mapping of the sea-bed using a towed synthetic aperture sonar. - The BlueWatcher hull-mounted sonar and its associated towed array sonar, the Captas-1, represent a new range of compact sonars for surface combatants and patrol vessels displacing 300 tonnes or more.
Thales has revealed details of a new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) sonar pairing specifically designed for small ship applications. Engineered to allow installation on offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) down to about 800 tonnes, the new CAPTAS-1 low-frequency variable-depth sonar and BlueWatcher hull-mounted sonar are intended to provide littoral navies with a credible ASW deterrent capability.
The CAPTAS family of low-frequency active/passive sonars was originally brought to market in the mid-1990s to meet growing demand for an improved surface ship ASW capability against quiet submarine threats. CAPTAS-1 builds on this pedigree, but shrinks the size to allow installation on small ships.
CAPTAS-1 uses a single - dependent tow for the active sonar source (a single free-flooded ring transducer operating at a centre frequency of about 1.5kHz) and a triplet receive array. Thales has also developed a compact and lightweight towed array handling system that uses a single automatic winch.
In July 2013, Thales (Stand B-030) conducted at-sea trials of a CAPTAS-1 engineering development model. According to figures released by the company, CAPTAS-1 will be able to operate at speeds of up to 12kts, and at depths down to 100m. Typical detection range is claimed to be in the region of 20-30km, depending on the target type and environmental conditions.
To enable installation on smaller OPVs, Thales has reduced deck footprint to 15m2 and weight to about 8 tonnes. One option is to install CAPTAS-1 in containerised form, with the sonar body/receive array and electrically powered towed array handling system housed in a standard 20ft shipping container; the winch control and electronic cabinets are installed in a 10ft container mounted adjacent.
Alongside CAPTAS-1, Thales is also introducing the BlueWatcher hull-mounted sonar, which repackages the transmitter and receive arrays from the FLASH airborne active dipping sonar to provide small ships with a compact, 360° multi-purpose sonar. Thales has engineered the BlueWatcher ‘wet end’ to fit in a cylindrical volume just 700mm in diameter and 600mm in height, limiting dome/draft requirements to 0.85m. Inboard components are limited to a single cabinet and the operator console.
Only a single hull penetration is required out to the array.
In active mode, used for ASW or collision/obstacle avoidance, BlueWatcher transmits on any one of three frequencies between 3-5kHz in FM (frequency modulation), CW (continuous wave) and combination pulse modes. In passive mode, the system can be used to detect small, fast surface craft. According to Thales, the implementation of adaptive beam-forming has delivered performance that is equivalent to an array twice the size. It also allows for installation on ‘noisy’ ships where there is no quietening or noise hygiene.
ARLINGTON, Va., 2 Feb. 2015.Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) experts at BAE Systems are developing an unmannedaircraft system (UAS) sensor payload able to look for submerged enemy submarines by detecting small variations in the Earth's magnetic field.
Officials of the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR) in Arlington, Va., announced an $8.9 million contract to the BAE Systems Electronic Systems segment in Merrimack, N.H., for the High Altitude ASW (HAASW) Unmanned Targeting Air System (UTAS) program for the Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol jet.
HAASW UTAS seeks to integrate a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) and algorithms for use on an air-launched drone that the P-8A will use to detect and pinpoint enemy submarines.
A MAD instrument detects minute variations in the Earth's magnetic field. A submerged submarine represents a mass of ferromagnetic material that creates a detectable disturbance in the Earth's magnetic field.
The Navy's predecessor to the P-8A -- the Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion four-engine turboprop aircraft -- has a MAD sensor attached to the back that looks like a large stinger that protrudes backward from the plane's tail.
ARLINGTON, Va., 2 Feb. 2015.Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) experts at BAE Systems are developing an unmannedaircraft system (UAS) sensor payload able to look for submerged enemy submarines by detecting small variations in the Earth's magnetic field.
Officials of the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR) in Arlington, Va., announced an $8.9 million contract to the BAE Systems Electronic Systems segment in Merrimack, N.H., for the High Altitude ASW (HAASW) Unmanned Targeting Air System (UTAS) program for the Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol jet.
HAASW UTAS seeks to integrate a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) and algorithms for use on an air-launched drone that the P-8A will use to detect and pinpoint enemy submarines.
A MAD instrument detects minute variations in the Earth's magnetic field. A submerged submarine represents a mass of ferromagnetic material that creates a detectable disturbance in the Earth's magnetic field.
The Navy's predecessor to the P-8A -- the Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion four-engine turboprop aircraft -- has a MAD sensor attached to the back that looks like a large stinger that protrudes backward from the plane's tail.
These high-altitude torpedoes are Navy Mark 54 lightweight torpedoes with add-n kits that enable the weapons to glide through the air to attack enemy submarines from long ranges and high altitudes.
Fixed-wing aircraft like the P-3 normally release conventional torpedoes from very low altitudes or with small parachutes to ease the torpedoes into the water gently.
The HAAWC ALA turns the Raytheon Mark 54 torpedo into a glide weapon. As the flying torpedo reaches the water, it jettisons wings and other air-control surfaces and takes on its original role as a smart torpedo that can detect, track, and attack enemy submarines autonomously.
The P-8A also is being designed to work together with the Northrop Grumman RQ-4N Triton Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) large UAS -- a maritime-patrol version of the Global Hawk long-range surveillance UAS.
One or more Triton UAS can detect and track hostile submarines from high or low altitudes, and the P-8A can look for submerged submarines and launch torpedo attacks from high altitudes. The MAD instrument-equipped HAAWC ALA drone will add to the new P-8A's ASW capabilities.
Many nations regard the submarine, with its ability to dive hundreds of metres below the surface, as one of their most covert assets.
But the dangers of the deep have serious implications if something goes wrong.
For the past week Navy personnel from Britain, France and Norway have been rehearsing on the NATO Submarine Rescue System.
Forces TV reporter Ali Gibson was given exclusive access to their training.
Patrick H. 's insight:
Le NSRS OTAN (financé à parts égales par la Grande-Bretagne, la Norvège et la France) est un sous-marin de poche piloté par 2 hommes (accompagnés d'un 3ème personnel), de 8,3 m x 3,5 mètres, pour une masse de 30 tonnes, doté de 2 propulseurs alimentés par des batteries Zebra (Rolls-Royce). Un câble ombilical en fibre optique permet de transmettre en temps réel communications, informations et images, auxquelles il faut ajouter un téléphone sous-marin en secours. Opérant à une vitesse de 4 nd, il est capable de se poser sur le panneau d'évacuation du sous-marin à secourir avec des angles variant de 0 à 60 degrés par rapport à l'horizontale et de remonter l'équipage par groupe de 15 personnes à chaque rotation, et donc de secourir en moins de 72h l'équipage d'un sous-marin en détresse jusqu'à 610 mètres de profondeur dans n'importe quelle partie du globe, sauf dans des zones couvertes par la glace et en cas de météo défavorable (mer supérieure à force 6).
Le NSRS est le premier système complet au monde capable de secourir en moins de 72h l'équipage d'un sous-marin en détresse jusqu'à 610 mètres de profondeur dans n'importe quelle partie du globe, sauf dans des zones couvertes par la glace et en cas de météo défavorable (mer supérieure à force 6). Sa disponibilité opérationnelle est de 98%. Un accord a été conclu avec les Etats-Unis de manière à ce que les systèmes SRDRS et NSRS puissent se suppléer en cas d'indisponibilité ou de maintenance.
L'immersion de 610 m est le résultat d'un compromis coût-risque permettant de couvrir les plateaux continentaux.
On notera que le poste de pilotage du sous-marin est hermétiquement séparé du module d'accueil des naufragés. Ces derniers doivent, en effet, pénétrer dans un lieu présentant la même pression que leur sous-marin (la pression peut être différente, par exemple si le sous-marin a été victime d'une voie d'eau). Le SRV peut, ainsi, intervenir dans des conditions de surpression de 0.8 à 5 bars à l'intérieur du sous-marin en difficulté.
French scientists have proposed a new acoustic absorption coating that can be used in nuclear submarines . About "stealth technology" for submarines authors told the magazine Physical Review B.
Sound is associated with the spread of mechanical vibrations in the environment (its thickening and thinning). The speed of sound in the medium increases with decreasing compressibility . This leads to the fact that acoustic waves propagate in water is more than four times faster than the air.
Corps military submarines usually contain special coatings that absorb incoming radiation from active sonar . It is difficult to detect potential enemy. Coatings generally are special perforated rubber plates, which is covered with a metal casing of the submarine. Sound absorption plates due to their material (rubber additives), the size and geometry.
Typically the thickness of the plates is a few centimeters. French scientists have proposed a new coating, the thickness of which is equal to a few millimeters. As reported by the authors, it is able to absorb more than 99 percent of the energy of sound waves reaching it.
Proposed by the authors rubber coating comprises a layer of periodically spaced air pockets, which act as shock absorbers , damping pressure of the sound wave.
To simplify the problem, the researchers used the pockets in the form of spherical bubbles. The data system of air and absorbs sound waves falling on it. The idea of using such absorbers waves has been known for a long time, however, as they note, with the help of computer simulations they managed to carefully choose the parameters of the new material, and then check their conclusions from the experience.
The absorption of energy depends on the elastic properties of rubber and the bubble radius. Specialists also managed to get the equation that relates (in the approximation used by them) property for a specific acoustic frequency characteristics of the material and the size of the air cavity. Scientists conducted underwater tests with the new material. To do this, they used MHz waves that were sent to the plane of the polymer thickness of 230 micrometers, placed on a steel substrate.
While researchers have not experimented with sound waves (frequency of about 16 hertz to 20 kilohertz), its calculations show that the polymer coating to a thickness of four millimeters in diameter with bubbles of two millimeters is capable of absorbing the incident wave.
The energy of the reflected waves is almost 100 times smaller than the incident. As the researchers note, new materials are thinner in comparison with modern analogs, and may find use in coatings future submarines.
In Russia, the development of acoustic absorptioncoatings engaged Krylov State Research Center . In it, in particular, work is underway to create not only a passive coating materials, but also active: sensors on such surfaces will determine the frequency of the incoming sound wave and neutralize it, emitting a signal of the same frequency but out of phase.
Patrick H. 's insight:
Voici les sources citées par l'article de Lenta.ru :
C’est un peu le petit frère du sous-marin requin du professeur Tournesol dans Le trésor de Rackham le Rouge. Mais lui n’existe pas que sur le papier. Il navigue. Mieux, il nage !
C’est la dernière trouvaille de l’US Navy. La marine américaine vient de tester sur sa base de Virginia Beach un prototype de drone sous-marin furtif se déplaçant comme un poisson. Plus précisément, ce drone imite l’un des poissons les plus rapides et les plus manœuvrants qui soient : le thon rouge.
Le Ghostswimmer (« nageur fantôme ») mesure environ 1,50 mètre de long et pèse 45 kg. Il peut opérer dans des profondeurs d’eau allant de 25 centimètres à 90 mètres. « Il nage comme le fait un poisson en faisant onduler sa queue vers l’avant et l’arrière », indique Michael Rufo, directeur de l’équipe du Boston Engineering qui a conçu l’engin.
Plus flexibles d'emploi
Le programme a démarré en 2008. Le besoin exprimé par l’US Navy était de disposer de drones plus flexibles d’emploi, plus agiles et moins gourmands en énergie. Les chercheurs ont travaillé à partir d’un thon rouge de l’Atlantique d’un mètre de long, pêché au large du Massachusetts. Ce spécimen a été scanné en laboratoire. Ses caractéristiques ont été reproduites à l’aide d’un logiciel de conception assistée par ordinateur (CAO).
Le robot conserve le profil hydrodynamique du thon. Des muscles artificiels actionnent les différentes nageoires. Cette technologie de thon robotique permet au drone d’être efficace à différentes vitesses, contrairement aux drones sous-marins munis d’un système de propulsion classique, généralement optimisé pour une seule vitesse.
Ce biomimétisme doit permettre de mener en toute discrétion des missions de renseignement, de surveillance et de reconnaissance (ISR). Ce type de drone pourrait aussi servir à l’inspection des coques avec l’avantage d’être plus silencieux que les robots sous-marins actuels mus par une hélice. Autre emploi possible, la détection des mines dans des environnements complexes comme les ports.
Britain was forced to call on its NATO allies for maritime aircraft to help hunt for a suspected foreign submarine after the Government scrapped its own patrol planes in defence cuts.
At the height of the operation, five aircraft from four different nations were working with Royal Navy ships in the search for the mystery vessel.
Since the Government scrapped its Nimrods in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review - claiming it would save £2billion over a decade - the UK has lacked a specialist maritime patrol aircraft.
Last night the SNP branded it ‘absurd’ and ‘embarrassing’ that a maritime nation had to depend on its allies for support of this type.
A periscope was sighted in waters where British submarines would normally surface as they head into or out of the Royal Navy’s submarine base at Faslane in Scotland - home of the UK’s ballistic missile submarines.
Maritime patrol aircraft (MPAs) from France, Canada and the US conducted patrols, in conjunction with British surface warships in the search, which began around November 26 and continued into the first week of December, operating out of RAF Lossiemouth.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that it had received assistance from NATO allies but would not say whether they had been searching for a submarine.
But a UK defence ministry spokesman told Aviation Week that Britain had ‘requested assistance from allied forces for basing of maritime patrol aircraft at RAF Lossiemouth for a limited period,’ adding: ‘The aircraft are conducting Maritime Patrol activity with the Royal Navy; we do not discuss the detail of maritime operations.’
The crew of the Bester-1 deep-submergence rescue vehicle has successfully completed a phase of independent factory sea trials and will participate in sea trials of the new "Igor Belousov" rescue ship in late November of this year. Following joint testing of the "Igor Belousov" rescue ship, which is scheduled for the first half of 2015, the Bester-1 rescue vehicle will become a fully functional component of the ship's suite of search and rescue equipment. With the vehicle's acceptance into the Russian Navy's search and rescue forces inventory, the Navy's ability to render assistance to submariners involved in an accident will significantly expand. The crew of this unique and modern submersible consists of six men. The crew has completed all required preparations and on-the-job training aboard a similar Northern Fleet submersible. The Bester-1 deep-submergence rescue vehicle is unique in terms of its characteristics. Distinguishing features include: vehicle control systems; level of accuracy in navigating and maintaining position while at a given depth; integrated automated control system; more powerful and practically new propulsion and steering systems; new system for guiding, landing and attaching the vehicle to a disabled submarine; and new chamber for mating to a submarine escape hatch, through which the crew can evacuate, when the submarine is listing at up to 45 degrees. All previous rescue vehicles built in our country and abroad could only render assistance to the crew of a distressed submarine that was listing at up to 15 degrees.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Project 18271/Bester-1 "AS-40" was towed from Admiralty Shipyards to Kronshtadt on October 30 and then back to Admiralty Shipyards on November 10. This 12-day period may be the "independent factory sea trials" referenced in the above press release.
Patrick H. 's insight:
La mise en service de son bateau-mère Igor Belousov a été retardée à 2015 :
India sees HMS-X2 system as attracting interest from Southeast Asian navies
India sees demand for smaller ASW-capable platforms with increased submarine presence in Southeast Asia
A compact integrated ship sonar system developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and taken forward by state-owned Indian company Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has attracted interest from Southeast Asian navies, a DRDO official told IHS Jane's on 6 November.
The system, known as the HMS-X2, displayed at the Indodefence 2014 exhibition, is being presented to Southeast Asian navies operating 500 to 1,500 tonne surface vessels. The sonar is a compact, export version of the HMS-X being installed on the Myanmar Navy's Aung Zeya-class guided-missile frigates.
Patrick H. 's insight:
Voir un autre article de cette semaine sur le même sujet :
TOKYO — Japan's growing need to improve its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities to counter quieter Chinese submarines in littoral waters could set off a three-way race between an upgraded indigenous platform against longer-term solutions, analysts said.
Last August, the Defense Ministry decided to start replacing its aging fleet of 46 SH-60J and 39 SH-60K Seahawk helicopters, providing an initial ¥7 billion (US $57.6 million) as part of a ¥48.1 billion development project. The procurement will lead to the deployment of about 80 new helicopters after 2022, MoD spokesman Tsuyoshi Hirata said.
The procurement mentions indigenous development, so it would seem to favor an easy upgrade of the SH-60K produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) with more advanced electronics, unless the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) is looking for a longer-term, more advanced solution, said Matthew Caris, an associate at Avascent Group, a Washington-based defense and aerospace consulting group.
"It seems like an odd time and a small amount of money to develop something truly new; perhaps it's the development of a new MHI H-60 variant with entirely indigenous electronics, which would make a lot more sense," he said.
A US-based source agreed the SH-60K provided a ready-made upgrade and was a logical move.
"The airframe itself is capable and already integrated into JMSDF operations, so a focus on improvements to mission system sensor and processing capability would likely be sufficient to most economically meet future helicopter ASW requirements," the source said.
But pressures are building that suggest the MoD may expand its search, analysts said.
Sweden's Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist has announced that the country's navy is upgrading its fleet of ships in order to improve its ability to locate rogue submarines in Swedish waters, following a huge search for a foreign vessel last autumn.
Peter Hultqvist announced on Thursday that the government planned to boost protection from potential intruders in Swedish waters, by increasing defence spending by six billion kronor ($696 million) between 2016 and 2020.
Prime Minister Stefan Löfven previously mooted strengthening the country's navy after revealing that Sweden had "conclusive proof" that a foreign vessel was present in Stockholm's archipelago in October, following a search that made international headlines.
Sweden’s armed forces later estimated that as many as four submarines were operating in the Stockholm Archipelago last autumn.
"Submarine hunting is a priority. We've had incidents showing that it is very important to have an increased capacity for anti-submarine warfare. We must do what we can to maintain and develop our skills. It is very important to protect Sweden's sovereignty," Hultqvist told Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter ahead of a media briefing.
He added that Sweden's navy would take part in more military exercises, naval ships would get larger crews and ships and boats would be taken out of action if they were not seen to be suitable for use in the current climate.
Two key military ships, Gävle and Sundsvall, are set to be significantly modernized with new sensors and other technical equipment designed to help Sweden better spot submarines in its waters.
Sweden will also return troops to Gotland in the Baltic Sea, following a decade-long absence from the waters.
Around 150 soldiers are set to be stationed on the island which is Sweden's largest and lies between the Nordic nation and Latvia.
"We are devoting a considerable sum of money to this mid-term modification," said Hultqvist.
But critics argue that the six billion kronor pledge is much less than the armed forces need to modernize their fleet and that the Swedish military is set to come under increasing financial pressure when government plans to raise payroll taxes for employers hiring young people come into action.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Defence Committee, Allan Widman from the centre-right Liberal Party, told the TT news agency: "It's too little money too late in the [parliamentary] term".
According to Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet, the armed forces asked for 16 billion kronor. However the publication says that the finance ministry initially offered two billion kronor, so the figure released on Thursday is an improvement on that.
Sweden has historically portrayed itself as neutral, but the country's defence capabilities have been called into question since last October's submarine hunt and as Russia's military presence in the region continues to grow.
Last month, Estonia-based international think tank International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS) warned that Sweden might not be able to defend itself against Russia, should its Baltic neighbour become more aggressive in future.
Sweden has already announced closer military cooperation with both Finland and Denmark, but has so far ruled out joining Nato.
A bill on the proposed fresh spending will be introduced to parliament at the end of April and is expected to be passed following an agreement between the centre-left coalition and the country's centre-right Alliance parties to cooperate on security and defence issues.
SINGAPORE - The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) has launched a new Submarine Training Centre (STC) at Changi Naval Base on Wednesday afternoon, said MINDEF in a statement.
The launch was officiated by Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Lai Chung Han, and attended by senior officials and pioneer submariners from RSN.
MINDEF said that the new STC is a one-stop training facility featuring simulators that enhance realism, effectiveness and efficiency during submarine training.
The training centre will also meet all operational training and qualification requirements for the submariners, MINDEF added.
On the same day of the launch, two RSN Challenger-class submarines, RSS Challenger and RSS Centurion, were retired after 18 years of service.
The new STC has been named RSS Challenger in recognition of the submarine's role as Singapore Navy's first submarine and training platform.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been accused of almost doubling the size of a submarine test site in Scotland without any prior consultation.
The British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre (BUTEC) is in the Inner Sound between the Isle of Raasay and Applecross on the mainland.
Fishing is banned in the BUTEC which was six miles (10km) long, three miles (6km) wide and up to 656ft (200m) deep.
MSP Dave Thompson said fishermen should have been asked about expanding it.
The SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch said the exclusion zone was to be expanded to the shorelines of the Inner Sound.
The MoD has been asked for a response to the claims.
Attack submarines
Mr Thompson told BBC Scotland: "I have no problem with them putting in greater investment and developing the area.
"But if they wish to expand the restricted area, which will stop other people from earning a living, then any extra benefit to the local community will be totally negated."
The BUTEC provides a sonar and weapon system tests area for the Royal Navy crews of Vanguard-class nuclear weapon submarines and Astute and Trafalgar-class attack submarines.
Fishing is prohibited in the area and fishing boats and other vessels can only remain in the BUTEC for as long as it is necessary for them to pass through the Inner Sound.
The submarine ranges are run from a site near Kyle of Lochalsh.
In 2009, politicians including Lib Dem MP Charles Kennedy campaigned to have the centre safeguarded against planned cuts to UK military spending.
Saab receives SEK175 million (USD20.8 million) FMV order to develop new torpedo and to support other underwater systems
Order placed within framework of 2014 Letter of Intent signed between Saab and the FMV
Swedish defence and security company Saab has received orders from Sweden's defence materiel administration (FMV) for continued development of the New Lightweight Torpedo (NLT) plus maintenance support for the Hydra sonar and other underwater systems, the company announced on 20 February.
The order, valued at approximately SEK175 million (USD20.8 million) according to the Saab statement, has been made within the framework of a Letter of Intent (LoI) signed between Saab and the FMV on 9 June 2014.
Russia’s stealth corvette Soobrazitelny has successfully tested the country’s newest Paket-NK small-sized anti-submarine system with anti-torpedo capabilities during the military exercises in the Baltic Sea.
The Kilo class diesel-electric torpedo submarine “Varshavyanka” (Project 877) served as a target and was fired at with actual torpedoes (which hadn't been equipped with warheads).
The corvette is set to engage in more practice firing and conduct a number of other military exercises.
The Paket-NK system is designed to engage (destroy) submarines in a ship's close-in zone, when carrying out submarine warfare tasks, and to destroy torpedoes, attacking the ship while carrying out anti-torpedo defense tasks.
The Paket-NK system can operate independently or be integrated into ship's antisubmarine/anti-torpedo defense system, solving a number of tasks in fully automatic or automated modes.
The tasks may include the generation of target designation data for smaller heat-seeking torpedoes, based on data provided by ship's sonar systems and posts.
Detection and classification of attacking torpedoes, determination of their movement parameters, and generation of target designation data for anti-torpedoes
Pre-launch preparation of combat modules, generation and transfer of firing data to them, launching of anti-torpedoes and/or miniature heat-seeking torpedoes
Launching units control
The Paket-NK system is a radically new weapon system, allowing surface ships to complete ASW/anti-torpedo defense tasks with high effectiveness, and to substantially increase their survivability.
Defence and security company SAAB has selected a cutting-edge Kongsberg Maritime hydroacoustic package for installation on two Swedish A19 submarines. The delivery will consist of SA9510S Mine Avoidance and Navigation Sonar for submarines and the leading EM 2040 Dual RX multibeam echosounder. The main purpose of the SA9510S sonar is to detect mines, obstacles and the sea-floor in a wide swath ahead of the submarine. The sonar generates target warnings or alarms with sufficient time available to perform an avoidance manoeuvre. It is a vital tool providing information to crew for bottom navigation purposes and for submerged navigation. The SA9510S sonar has the ability to detect and display the bottom profile in several selected horizontal directions in front of the submarine. Mine-seeking and submerged navigation can be performed simultaneously. The EM 2040 Dual RX to be delivered is an enhanced version of the leading EM 2040 multibeam echosounder system. The EM 2040 Dual RX features two TX-Transmitters and two RX-Receivers and is designed for mapping in shallow areas at higher speed. It will provide A19 crews with accurate survey data and excellent range performance (both depth and swath width) at the highest resolution available in the market. “With this sonar solution selected for both the Swedish submarines and Norwegian submarines, Kongsberg Maritime will have delivered active navigation sonars to the two leading submarine nations specialising in operation in shallow water,” comments Thomas Hostvedt Dahle, Product Sales Manager Naval sonars in Kongsberg Maritime. “This contract features our state-of-the-art navigation and avoidance sonar in addition to our flagship multibeam system. It strengthens Kongsberg Maritime’s position as a leading supplier of sonars with special capabilities for operation in littoral waters, whilst demonstrating the effectiveness of our standard products adapted for military operations.”
This report describes how undersea competitions evolved over the last century, the disruptive trends that may lead to a new era in undersea warfare, and the elements that will comprise an effective approach to the next chapter in undersea competition.
Over the next year, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) will explore trends in undersea warfare technology and operations as part of a new research initiative. The goal of this effort is to identify new approaches that exploit the undersea domain in order to maintain U.S. military advantage while preserving the ability to deny use of the undersea to adversaries.
U.S. defense strategy depends in large part on America’s advantage in undersea warfare. Quiet submarines are one of the U.S. military’s most viable means of gathering intelligence and projecting power in the face of mounting anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) threats being fielded by a growing number of countries. As a result, undersea warfare is an important, if not essential, element of current and future U.S. operational plans. America’s rivals worry in particular about the access submarines provide for U.S. power-projection operations, which can help offset an enemy’s numerical or geographic advantages.
Broadly speaking, undersea warfare is the employment of submarines and other undersea systems in military operations within and from the underwater domain. These missions may be both offensive and defensive and include surveillance, insertion of Special Forces, and destroying or neutralizing enemy military forces and undersea infrastructure.
America’s superiority in undersea warfare is the product of decades of research and development (R&D), a sophisticated defense industrial base, operational experience, and high-fidelity training. This superiority, however, is far from assured. U.S. submarines are the world’s quietest, but new detection techniques are emerging that do not rely on the noise a submarine makes, and that may render traditional manned submarine operations far riskier in the future.
America’s competitors are likely pursuing these technologies while also expanding their own undersea forces. To sustain its undersea advantage well into this century, the U.S. Navy must accelerate innovation in undersea warfare by reconsidering the role of manned submarines and exploiting emerging technologies to field a new “family of undersea systems.”
Ultra Electronics announces that its Sonar Systems business, based in Greenford, Middlesex, has been awarded a £27m contract for the Royal Navy’s Sonar 2050 Technology Refresh (S2050TR) Program. Under this contract, which will be executed over the next 10 years, the Group will deliver and support new hull mounted sonars for the Royal Navy’s eight Type-23 frigates. The S2050 Technology Refresh programme will deliver, to the Royal Navy, a world-leading sonar capability providing persistent surveillance against submarine and torpedo threats, at a significantly lower through-life cost. Ultra’s capability in sonar leverages technologies from a number of recent overseas wins. The Group is able to offer this advanced system as a low risk solution to the Royal Navy. Ultra’s sonar capability incorporates a number of world leading solutions, which will help satisfy the growing global market. Rakesh Sharma, Chief Executive of Ultra commented: “I am very pleased that Ultra has been awarded the Sonar 2050 Technology Refresh contract. This is a significant opportunity and it demonstrates Ultra's continuing ability to supply and support cutting edge sonar systems to the Royal Navy. We look forward to working with the DE&S team on this program.”
The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded BAE Systems a £270 million contract to upgrade the Spearfish Heavyweight Torpedo for the Royal Navy’s submarines. Following the completion of the design phase, existing torpedoes will be upgraded by BAE Systems at its Broad Oak facility in Portsmouth to the new design with initial deliveries in 2020 continuing until 2024.
The upgrade, known as Spearfish Mod 1 extends the life of the torpedo, improves safety through the introduction of an Insensitive Munitions warhead and by utilising a single fuel system and provides more capable data links between the weapon system and the launching vessel. This results in capability improvements for the Royal Navy as well as significant reduction in through-life operating costs.
The anti-submarine and anti-surface Spearfish torpedoes are currently deployed the BAE Systems designed and built Trafalgar and Vanguard submarines, as well as the Astute Class submarines. Spearfish can be used in defensive and offensive situations and its advanced design delivers maximum warhead effectiveness at high speed with outstanding manoeuvrability, low radiated noise, advanced homing and sophisticated tactical intelligence.
The torpedo can operate autonomously from the time of launch and is capable of variable speeds across the entire performance envelope. Its high power density bespoke engine allows it to attain exceptional sprint speed in the terminal stage of an attack. The result is an underwater weapon that provides decisive advantage against the full range of submarine and surface threats in all operational environments. Extensive in-water testing will demonstrate consistently high performance and outstanding reliability.
On November 12, without announcement or fanfare, the ministry of defence (MoD) signed a small contract with enormous implications for itself and the Indian Navy. This formalized the purchase of six advanced towed array sonar (ATAS) systems from Atlas Elektronik, the German naval systems giant, for just under Euro 40 million (Rs 306 crore).
These ATAS systems will equip three Talwar-class frigates (INS Talwar, Trishul and Tabar) and three Delhi-class destroyers (INS Delhi, Mumbai and Mysore), allowing them to detect enemy submarines in the Arabian Sea, where the warm, shallow waters confound conventional hull-mounted sonars.
Without ATAS, all the warships the navy has built and bought since the 1990s --- each costing a few thousand crore and crewed by a couple of hundred sailors --- would be sitting ducks in war. Enemy submarines, lurking unseen 50-80 kilometres away, could leisurely torpedo Indian warships.
So vulnerable has been India’s fleet that, when INS Vikramaditya, the navy’s new aircraft carrier, was sailing home from Russia, it was escorted through the Arabian Sea by several Indian warships. There was no certainty that Pakistan’s Agosta 90B submarines could be detected by sonar systems other than ATAS.
All that protects India’s 25 latest frontline warships from enemy submarines is a relatively ineffective Passive Towed Array Sonar (PTAS), and an indigenous hull-mounted sonar called HUMSA.
So important is the ATAS contract that the MoD abandoned even the pretence of indigenisation. Atlas Elektronik will build all six ATAS systems in Germany, and has been exempted from offsets.
ATAS is especially vital in the Arabian Sea. Warships detect underwater objects (like submarines) with sonar --- a “ping” of sound emitted into the water that reflects from submarines, just as radar bounces back from aircraft. In our warm, shallow waters, the returning signal often gets lost. Since the water is warm on the surface and cools rapidly as one goes deeper, the sharp “temperature gradient” refracts sonar waves, bending them away from the warship’s sensors. Unable to receive the returning signal, the warship cannot detect the submarine.
ATAS overcomes the “temperature gradient”, since it is towed by a cable that extends deep below the surface, into the cooler layers where submarines lurk. With the sensors themselves in the colder water layers, there is no “temperature differential”. Even the faintest return signal from a submarine is detected.
The navy will fit ATAS externally onto the rear of its warships, which have been built for this reason with an empty compartment at the rear.
With this contract, Atlas Elektronik has taken pole position for supplying the navy a range of high-end sonars. Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), which is required to build ten ATAS with foreign partnership, has been encouraged by the navy to tie up with Atlas so that sonar equipment is standardised across warships.
BEL is learnt to be in discussions with Atlas for building ten ATAS for three Shivalik-class frigates (INS Shivalik, Satpura and Sahyadri), three Kolkata-class destroyers (Kolkata, Kochi and Chennai), and four Kamorta-class anti-submarine corvettes (INS Kamorta, Kadmatt, Kiltan and Kavaratti).
That leaves 20 warships that will remain in naval service for some years. These include: three aircraft carriers (INS Vikramaditya, Vikrant and Vishal); three Brahmaputra class frigates (INS Brahmaputra, Betwa and Beas); three Talwar-class follow-on frigates (INS Teg, Tarkash and Trikand); four Project 15-B destroyers (unnamed, under construction); and seven Project 17-A frigates (unnamed, contract being negotiated).
Given its first-mover advantage, the infrastructure and partnerships it will build and its already demonstrated price advantage, Atlas hopes to supply sonar systems for these and for other smaller surface warships and submarines. In April, the MoD tendered for 16 Anti Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASWC), which need sophisticated sonar with electronically controlled beams.
Atlas Elektronik sources say they are eager to establish a joint venture company with either BEL or an Indian private sector company to build sonars in India. That would grant majority ownership of 51 per cent to the Indian entity.
ATAS import has been blocked since the mid-1990s because the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) was developing an indigenous ATAS called Nagan. In 2012, the Nagan project was officially shut down and work began on another system called ALTAS. With this making slow progress, the DRDO finally okayed import.
In November 2012, two years ago, Atlas was declared the lowest bidder. That was followed by a string of complaints to the MoD against Atlas, apparently motivated, since the MoD found no wrongdoing. Even so, with the ministry painstakingly investigating every complaint, each caused a 3-4 month delay. Earlier this year, with the elections impending, the United Progressive Alliance decided to leave the signing to the next government.
Atlas Elektronik is owned 51 per cent by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH (KMW) and 49 per cent by Airbus Defence & Space.
Patrick H. 's insight:
Les négociations étaient en cours depuis 2010 et se sont visiblement accélérées depuis l'arrivée du nouveau gouvernement :
The Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) is developing an unmanned vessel optimized to robustly track quiet diesel electric submarines. (Picture: DARPA)
The surrogate vessel upon which testing was just complete. Picture: Leidos
Leidos, a national security, health, and engineering solutions company, completed a total of 42 days of at-sea demonstrations of the prototype maritime autonomy system designed to control all of the maneuvering and mission functions of DARPA's Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV). Using a 32-foot work boat as a surrogate vessel, Leidos installed autonomy software and sensors to mimic the configuration intended for an eventual full-size ACTUV prototype.
According to the U.S. Navy, 43 nations operate more than 600 submarines; the steady increase in undersea vessels makes tracking a challenge. Raytheon's Modular Scalable Sonar System (MS3) will integrate into SAIC's prototype trimaran vessel as the primary search and detection sonar. The system is designed to provide search, detection, passive-threat filtering, localization and tracking capabilities without requiring human operation.
The Leidos strategy to evaluate the prototype ACTUV autonomy system for COLREGS compliance includes both simulation and at-sea testing. The team has completed approximately 26,000 simulation runs of the system. Testing of COLREGS involves the ACTUV surrogate and one interfering vessel in a variety of meeting, crossing, overtaking and transit scenarios in both simulation and on the water test events. During a recent on-the-water test event, the surrogate boat autonomously navigated through narrow channels avoiding navigation aids and submerged hazards. The boat safely avoided surface ships it encountered along the route, satisfying COLREGS requirements in completely unscripted events. While continuing to use the surrogate vessel to test ACTUV software and sensors, construction of Sea Hunter, the first ACTUV vessel, continues at Christensen Shipyard in Clackamas, Oregon. Sea Hunter is scheduled to launch in late summer 2015 and begin testing in the Columbia River shortly thereafter.
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