SAES bid farewell to the last P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft

The Ministry of Defence decided back in 2001 to provide the P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircrafts with Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities, as well as to develop a Tactical Mission System integrating all the aircraft sensors, and a Mission Support Centre to give intelligence support to ASW missions. SAES was one of the Spanish companies chosen for the modernisation of the P-3 Orion aircraft fleet, for its SPAS system (Sonobuoys Acoustic Processor System) and its ARAS system (Fast Time Analyser System).

After almost 50 years in service for the Spanish Air Force, on 16th December 2022 a farewell event for the last P-3 Orion aircraft took place at Morón de la Frontera Air Base (Seville). The event was chaired by the Chief of Staff of the Spanish Air and Space Force, general Javier Salto Martínez-Avial, who mentioned that the following months will be a transition until the Spanish Government replace the retired aircraft.

The P-3 Orion aircraft was part of the 11th Wing from Spanish Air Force, one of the key assets in air patrol missions such as the ‘Atalanta Operation’ (a counter-piracy military operation at sea off the Horn of Africa) and anti-submarine warfare.

SAES bid farewell to the last P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft

The end of the P-3 Orion operating lifetime by 2022 means the Spanish Air Force temporarily loses its capability on maritime patrol aircrafts (MPAs). During 2023 the Ministry of Defence is due to buy four C-295 MPA, and SAES will take part with its SPAS-32 system.

SAES participation in the P-3 Orion aircrafts.

In 2001 the Spanish Ministry of Defence wanted to boost the modernisation of the P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircrafts, operated by Group 22 (11th Wing) from Spanish Air Force.

The project included a strong participation of the Spanish industry. Companies such as AIRBUS (then called EADS CASA), Indra, Tecnobit, ITP Aero or SAES assumed responsibility for providing aircrafts with the most advanced ASW capabilities in the market. The aim was to develop a Tactical Mission System integrating all of the plane sensors, allowing full tactical and operational cooperation, which was finally called FITS (Fully Integrated Tactical System).

SAES took part in the P-3 Orion aircraft with its Sonobuoys Acoustic Processor System (SPAS) in its SPAS-16 version. This system has been able to concurrently process 16 passive and active sonobuoys and record up to 32 sonobuoys.

SPAS is a system fully integrated with the Tactical Mission System, which allows the acoustic operator detecting, locating, classifying and tracking submarines and surface ships by the passive and active acoustic data gathered by the deployed sonobuoys.

Another key objective for the modernisation of the fleet was to provide them with a Mission Support Centre to give intelligence support to ASW missions. To that end, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with SAES to implement its Fast Time Analyser System (ARAS). It is a portable system that can be deployed whenever the Air Forces need to conduct ASW missions.

The SPAS system had its operational christening during the NATO Operation Noble Manta 2006, and the ARAS system was launched during the NATO Operation Noble Manta 2008.

SAES bid farewell to the last P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft
SAES bid farewell to the last P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft

SAES attends the Navantia assignment of the tactical submarine simulator SIMTAC S80 for the Spanish Navy

The Tactical Submarine Simulator S80 allows tactical training for the Spanish Navy crew, and it has been installed in the Submarine School inside the Military Arsenal building in Cartagena. The acoustical simulation developed by SAES interacts with the Integrated Nucleus of the Combat System (ICSC) developed by Navantia Sistemas. This system replaces the previous interaction with real acoustic environment

The agreement for the temporary assignment of the Tactical Submarine Simulator (SIMTAC) S80 has been signed in the Submarine School located in the Cartagena Naval Base on Monday 20th December by Germán Romero (Navantia) and Captain Aurelio Fernández, Director of Submarine School, on behalf of both the Ministry of Defence and the Spanish Navy. The assignment of the simulator ends when Navantia delivers the first S80 class submarine to the Navy.

The companies that have collaborated developing the SIMTAC S80 have also been present, including Javier del Corral, Programme Manager for DGAM (Office Weapons and Material – Ministry of Defense); Manuel Aranda, S80 Programme Manager (Navantia Sistemas); Ismael Ayala, S80 Tactical Simulator Programme Manager for INDRA; and Cristina Abad, SAES General Manager.

SAES general director, Cristina Abad Salinas in the act of transfer of the SIMTAC S80 to the Spanish Navy

The S80 Tactical Simulator, SIMTAC-S80, allows the training of the submarine crew and the Submarine School students, in a highly realistic environment, as well as the testing of new tactics to improve its performance.

SIMTAC-S80 works with the same functionalities and forms of operation of that of the S80 Submarine Combat System, replacing all system entries (equipment and sensors) for simulation elements in the most realistic environment.

The acoustic simulation, developed and delivered by SAES, is par of the global solution developed by NAVANTIA, INDRA and SAES for the S80 submarine tactical training to the Spanish Navy, located in the Submarine School inside the Military Arsenal building in Cartagena.

The acoustical simulation developed by SAES interacts with the Integrated Nucleus of the Combat System (ICSC) developed by Navantia Sistemas. This system replaces the previous interaction with real acoustic environment.

The Integrated Nucleus of the S80 Combat System (ICSC) delivered by Navantia includes elements developed by SAES such as the integrated sonars operator interface, the long-range towed array sonar (TAS), the ONMS (noise monitoring system) and the detection and counter-detection prediction system of the combat system.

Signature of the agreement for the temporary assignment of the Tactical Submarine Simulator (SIMTAC) S80

SAES participates in Feindef 2021, the largest Defence exhibition in Spain, as an ‘Innovation Partner’

 

The second edition of the International Defence and Security Fair (Feindef) returns to IFEMA from 3 to 5 November, where SAES will be sponsoring INNOVATION . The MIRS system, developed by SAES to measure the different multi-influence signatures of ships, as well as its maritime security devices, will be on display at the stand.

The most important fair of the defence and security sector in Spain, Feindef, celebrates its second edition from 3 to 5 November at the IFEMA facilities. This event has become the national reference forum to share knowledge and cooperate ringing together companies, organizations, universities and other organisations in the sector. SAES participates as an Innovation Partner, following its strategic commitment to support the best innovation projects in the defence and security sector.

SAES is leader in underwater technology and innovation, and it is showing some of its most advanced products at Feindef, such us the MIRS system that measures multi-influence signatures (acoustic, electrical, magnetic, pressure and seismic) of ships. This MIRS system developed by SAES is already used in several countries, and in the coming months a station of these characteristics will allow Navantia and the Spanish Navy to measure the signatures that characterise the S-80 submarines.

This technology is also applied to maritime security devices such as MINEA, a product that SAES is also exhibiting at Feindef: a multipurpose system that provides a complete solution to all activities related to mining and counter-mining operations.

SAES is also exhibiting the DDS or Diver Detection System: a small, lightweight active sonar that is used as a protection device easily deployable from the side of a ship or installed in fixed mode as a defence at the entrance of a port or critical facilities.

 

Leaders in underwater acoustics and electronics

SAES is therefore a leader in sonar technology and anti-submarine defence, backed by its participation in the Spanish Navy’s major naval programmes for more than 30 years. Among others, it has been an essential part of the Spanish Segura class minehunters, the S-70 and S-80 submarines, the F-100 and F110 frigates and the P-3M maritime patrol aircraft, all of them dedicated to the submarine defence of our coasts.

In its commitment to the environment, SAES makes its technology available to civil applications with systems and services for the measurement of underwater noise and electromagnetic pollution, offering analysis and modelling tools to study and evaluate the noise produced by ships, underwater wind farms, oil platforms and other marine installations.

The positioning of SAES as a leading technology company is reinforced in its strategic plan for 2022, in which resources are expanded to carry out an internal digital transformation process and for the incorporation of new technologies, with special attention to artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.     As part of this effort, its facilities have been adapted and approved for the manufacture of the elements that make up the F110’s hull sonar and its subsequent testing process.

 

SAES participates en Feindef 2021 as Innovation Partner

SAES participates in the closing ceremony of the ‘I want to be an engineer’ mentoring programme at Cartagena Polytechnic University

SAES has taken part this year in the mentoring programme developed by the Spanish Royal Academy of Engineering (‘Women & Engineering’ project) in partnership with the Cartagena Polytechnic University. The project aims to strengthen scientific and technological vocation among young girls and it celebrates its closing ceremony on Friday 15th October with the presence of all the partner companies.

The Women’s Talent and Excellence Development Programme was launched by the Spanish Royal Academy of Engineering with the partnership of the Cartagena Polytechnic University (UPCT), targeting female students in their last year of their master’s degree, postgraduates or newly-qualified engineers. The objective of this programme is to motivate young students and foster vocations in STEM studies (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) so that more women decide to pursue these specialities, as well as help develop their professional career until they reach decision-making positions.

Three women in SAES management positions have been mentoring and guiding young female engineers into their access to the job market: Cristina Abad (General Manager, Industrial Automatics and Electronics Engineer); Sara García (Director of Digital Transformation & Innovation, Telecommunications Engineer); and Esther Corbalán (Director of Human Ressources, Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics).

The Excellence in Mentoring closing gala was opened by Beatriz Miguel, Rector of the UPCT, accompanied by Javier Pérez, Director of the Royal Academy of Engineering, as well as Sara Gómez, Director of the Women & Engineering project.

Esther Corbalán, Director of HHRR for SAES, Esther Corbalán, during her speech at the “Women and Engineering” ceremony at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT)

Esther Corbalán, Director of HHRR for SAES, has taken part in the closing ceremony sharing her experience as a mentor. She explained young students and newly-qualified engineers that her professional experience can be summed up in two words: versatility and challenge. “Engineering profiles are quite versatile, meaning highly specialised in a very specific area of knowledge at the same time that are able to perform other tasks with the help of training and constant updating.”

Esther Corbalán, along with the mentee Maria Jesús García Aparicio, and the presenter of the event, Patricia Martínez, Industrial Engineer at Técnicas Reunidas.

Sara García shared her experience as a mentor and highlighted the importance of teaching through every-day examples and the professional experience of technical experts. “Society is slowly progressing when underlying the work of outstanding women in History, and we need more ordinary women in technical STEM studies, not just a female Nobel prize winner or PM… so that we can eliminate the exceptional nature connotation.”

Cristina Abad, SAES General Manager, explained that “it has been a privilege to take part in this programme, we are very proud of helping draw attention to women’s presence in technological sectors in managing positions, where we clearly miss more female leaders”.

You can see the closing ceremony at this link.

SAES presents its underwater measurement systems for the civil sector at World Maritime Week (WMW) in Bilbao

SAES exhibits at SINAVAL its MIRS model, a dual application which works as a multi-influence radiation measurement system for ships, as well as an underwater measuring station for environmental assessment. SINAVAL, focused on shipbuilding, is one of the five congresses held by the International Maritime Week. The event is organised by the Bilbao Exhibition Center (BEC) from 5th to 7th October.

SAES participates as a co-exhibitor with Navantia in SINAVAL, the international naval congress part of the “World Maritime Week 2021”, which hosts in parallel 4 other congresses related to the following fields: fishing (EUROFISHING); ports (FUTUREPORT); upstream and downstream oil & gas (OIL & GAS CONFERENCE); and wave, tidal and current energy (OCEAN ENERGY CONFERENCE).

 SAES is interested in the five areas of the WORLD MARITIME WEEK and is showing at SINAVAL its portfolio of underwater measurement and analysis products as well as its services for the civil sector, such as the SDH smart digital hydrophone or the MIRS: a multi-influence signature measurement system for ships, applicable for environmental assessment. This system is one of a wide range of SAES products with dual applications for both the defence and civil markets: from diver detection sonars (detection of underwater intrusion) to multi-influence signature measurement systems and sonobuoys acoustic processor systems.

Adolfo Hernández, SAES Comercial Director ( a la derecha), together with Head of the Civil Market & Security, Eduardo Ruiz.

As specialist in underwater acoustics, SAES is also presenting its DDS-03: a high-frequency sonar specially designed for the for the detection of underwater threats, such as divers and manned and unmanned underwater vehicles, as well as the protection and surveillance of critical infrastructures (whether they are shipyards, ports, aquaculture facilities, oil or gas extraction and processing platforms or marine generators).

The system watches over the underwater area to be protected autonomously and continuously. When detecting a threat, the system generates an alert and continues to monitor it, allowing to know the exact position, distance, trajectory, and type of threat. This information enables to be activated well in advance acoustic deterrents to counter the threat, such as dispatching a patrol to the area.

Both the sonar and the acoustic deterrent system allow their deployment from patrol boats, manned or not, thus expanding the coverage radius of the system, compared to a fixed installation.    

Underwater measurement for the civil sector

SAES has products for underwater measurement and analysis services for the civil sector, such as the SDH smart digital hydrophone or the MIRS system.

The MIRS system measures and processes not only acoustic emissions but also electrical and magnetic radiation and other influences and parameters such as the seismic wave and the temperature.

On the other hand, the SDH is a dual device designed and built to be used by oceanographic institutes, universities, certification companies as well as for applications in the military sector. One of the main applications of the SDH smart digital hydrophone is the measurement of the indicators defined in descriptor 11 (European Directive 2008/56/EC establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy).

These solutions are applicable to conducting scientific and environmental studies, as well as to verifying underwater noise levels caused by maritime traffic, construction activities at sea, oil and gas extraction platforms and offshore wind fields, among others; as well as any facility or activity that may introduce energy into the marine environment.

   

SAES participates in ASW Barrier workshops, held in Portugal in parallel with the largest NATO exercise on Maritime Unmanned Systems

SAES is one of the Spanish companies taking part in the workshop of the ASW Barrier – Smart Defence Initiative, a multinational plan which aims to develop anti-submarine warfare barrier capabilities across the Alliance and supported by 11 countries, including Spain.

SAES has taken part in the ASW Barrier workshop within the NATO’s REP MUS 21 exercise (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping Augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems), held in Portugal from 13th to 24th September. As a company specialised in underwater acoustics and electronics, SAES participated in a conference where the ‘ASW Barrier – Smart Defence Initiative’ was presented to companies interested as well as in the following networking sessions to establish stronger ties among participants.

Around ten companies from Spain, France, Italy, UK and Australia have taken part in the ASW Barrier event, as well as representatives of the Armed forces from those countries, Portugal, Romania, and the NATO’s Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE).

The ASW Barrier project has a multinational approach and aims to develop the anti-submarine warfare barrier capabilities across the Alliance, and it is supported by 11 countries: Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, the UK and the US. The SDI is sponsored by NATO’s Maritime Unmanned Systems (MUS) initiative.

Some of the main objectives of the ASW Barrier plan include from improving the anti-submarine warfare systems to going in depth in the fusion of different sensors information to facilitate decision-making as well as the use of marine unmanned systems.

REP MUS 2021

REP MUS 21 consist of large-scale unmanned systems exercises in a multinational and cooperative environment where Academia, Armed forces and industry from different countries engage in technological experimentation activities and procedures and tactics for MUS in real-life operational scenarios.

Navantia (the Spanish state-owned shipbuilding company) is showing at REP MUS 21 its USV Vendaval: the first aluminum boat USV / Unmanned Surface Vessel with autonomous navigation capacity, already in active operation in the Ceuta Port Authority (Spain).

SAES is collaborating with Navantia in a variety of initiatives to develop the underwater sensor capabilities Viento Class USV, to be used on both civil and defence applications.


SAES participates in the 2nd International Congress of Countermeasures of mine laying

The company shows their smart naval mines MINEA in Brazil

SAES participates in the Second International Congress of Countermeasures of mine laying, II CICMM, held in Salvador de Bahia (Brazil) from November 4th to 6th. More than 12 delegations from different countries, including Sweden, Italy and France have attended the event.

SAES is a company specialist in underwater defense and more specifically in the area of naval mines. For this reason, it has been invited as an expert since the first edition of the congress, in 2017. Years before, the company participated, together to Navantia, in the “Symposium of Naval Mine Warfare” that was the precursor of the congress, offering lectures on intelligent naval mines and the acoustic, magnetic, electrical, seismic and pressure influencing firms that characterize the ships.

This year SAES is one of the sponsoring companies of the congress and has a stand where is showing the features and capabilities of MINEA smart naval mines. They are the most advanced smart marine mines manufactured today. They are intended for training minesweeper crews. Knowing how an advanced smart mine works is essential to the safety of the vessel. There are three models specifically designed for the different depths and characteristics of shallow and deep waters: moored mines, shallow-water mines and cylindrical bottom mines.

The event is aimed to participants and specialist to exchange information and knowledge as well as visit companies stands with related products and services. The program of conferences includes speeches about Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV), remotely operated vehicles (ROV), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), robotics, nanotechnology and issues applied to the Naval Mine Warfare.

SAES shows advanced underwater solutions in IDEX 2019

The company participated, together other firms, in the Spanish pavilion coordinated by TEDAE.

An important representation of Spanish companies have exposed their technological solutions in the IDEX and Navdex exhibition, from February 17th to 21th, in the city of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

The Spanish pavilion was organized by TEDAE, a spanish association that included the main companies related to de defence and security. This time, eight companies have participated and presented their products in the Spanish pavilion: Escribano, Grabysur, Hisdesat, Instalaza, SAES, Urovesa, Everis Aerospacial y Defensa, and Expal.

At IDEX, SAES, that is celebrating its 30th anniversary, have exhibited solutions such as the MILA underwater demolition charge, the MIRS range system, the DDS-03 diver detection sonar for the protection of critical infrastructures as well as several ASW systems for aerial and naval platforms.

SAES is attended the International Defense Exhibition and Conference 2019, the main event of the sector in the MENA region held in Abu Dhabi, thanks to the support of ICEX and the ERDF co-funding.

Submarine signature of intelligence in front of mine war.

 The global interest in submarine signatures is growing. Today, modern systems and ships take into account not only acoustic signatures but also electrical, magnetic, pressure and seismic influences.

Multiple influence signatures and current smart naval mines can detect a specific objective through the analysis of these signatures.

SAES-MIRS

SAES, based on its experience in underwater sensors, has developed a complete set of multiple influence naval mines, MINEA, that use a variety of sensors to detect different physical influences.

MINEA’s naval mines are the most advanced smart marine mines currently manufactured. They are intended for the formation of mine sweeping equipment and it is essential to know how an advanced intelligent mine works for the safety of the ship.

SAES-MINES   SAES-MIRS-MINES

On the other hand, the signature of multiple influence (SIGINT) allows to characterize and classify a contact (surface or submarine) not only from the analysis of the radiated acoustic noise, which configures its acoustic signature, but also from the analysis of its electrical, magnetic, pressure and seismic influences. The MIRS system of SAES is high performance for SIGINT.

The Multiple Influence Range System (MIRS) for surface ships and submarines provides real measurements of these influences. MIRS is a portable station that can be used in any scenario for multiple tasks, such as: obtain the signature of the ship in a real scenario and collect information in strategic areas, routine check or signatures before a mission.

SAES presents ASW and SIGINT solutions at EXPONAVAL 2018

SAES at Exponaval 2018SAES, who exhibits their solutions in a shared-stand together to Navantia, has been visited by the Chilean minister of Defence

SAES is participating at the Exponaval International Naval & Marine Exhibition and congress for Latin America, from 4th to 7th December in Valparaiso. The company exhibits together with Navantia in the stand 124a.  SAES is the only Spanish company that designs and manufactures anti-submarine warfare systems for all-type of ASW platforms. SAES is internationally renowned in this area. Furthermore, the company is at the forefront of the market in underwater signatures measurement and management.

New ASW challenges, new solutions.

The operative concept of ASW missions has changed due to the emergence of new naval and aerial platforms and the fact the naval forces involved in ASW missions operate closer to the coast.

SAES at Exponaval 2018

SAES, based on its wide experience, provides different ASW systems, which are capable of processing digital sonobuoys as well as multi-static processing, in order to improve the threat detection rate.

SPAS system is a solution for MPAs. It is an acoustic system to detect, localize and track submarines and surface ships based on analysis of acoustic signals acquired by deployed passive and active sonobuoys both analog and digital versions. SPAS system works totally integrated into the Tactical Mission Center.

ROASW system is the solution indicated for naval warships and helos. Besides of being an powerful acoustic processor, ROASW provides interoperability among different platforms (surface ships as frigates or corvettes, helicopters, UAVs,etc.) achieving an common operations scenario among all the resources deployed.

Specifically, ROASW and SPAS systems have been commercialized besides of Spain, in Brazil, Chile and Swedish.

Underwater Signature Intelligence

SAES is also experienced in Signature Intelligence and provides systems for MCM platforms.

For instance, MIRS is an advanced portable system that obtains the complete signature (Acoustic, Magnetic and Electrical) of a submarine or surface ship. Furthermore, MIRS can be used to as a discrete device to gather Underwater Signature Intelligence Information or as a tool to verify the ship-signature levels before a mission.