SAES company director (SA Electronic Underwater) set out new trends in subsea sensors under antisubmarine surveillance for the navy Technology Conference held at the School of Naval Engineers in Madrid.
The benchmark company in underwater acoustics in Spain, specialist in the area of surveillance and submarine defence, has participated in the conference “IMPACT OF NAVAL CONSTRUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY IN SPANISH INDUSTRY” organized by the Spanish Armada, to treat specific technological developments in submarine technology.
The lecture entitled “New Trends in underwater sensors” stressed the importance of submarine surveillance in the Mediterranean Sea, which is evident given the conflicts in countries that border, and the known fact that submarines from many countries, not only surrounding, are patrolling daily.
The detection of submarines based on the use of sonar is a complex discipline that requires high technology and trained crews; otherwise, it is relatively easy unwanted intrusion taking advantage of the existence of “blind spots”, as well known to those involved in this naval area.
These “blind spots” can be minimized by exploiting the latest technological advances and integrated manner using platforms and sensors placed at the service of force, is what is known as “ASW – Network Centric Warfare”. Extensive use of drones UAV, USV and UUV as integrated remote sensing, bi-static and multi-static processing using sonar buoys and variable depth sonar all members of the force, the combined signal processing and low medium frequency and a robust broadband communication systems, i.e., low failure rate, are the new trends in subsea sensors to achieve a scenario more comprehensive and effective detection.
Figure 1: Example of reducing blind spots by bi-static processing of different sensors.
SAES, as a high-tech enterprise, invests a significant amount of their budget to R + D + I and takes years studying and integrating their systems in new developments in service across platforms worldwide. “Specifically in the area in question, we have developed the ROASW (Remote Operation ASW system). This system, based on acoustic sonobuoys processing, allows the exchange of information between multiple platforms (surface ships as frigates or corvettes, helicopters, UAVs, …) the centralized management and the rapid making decisions” says the director of SAES Antonio Cordero, while highlighting the undeniable opportunity to apply this technology to new units under programs of European and transatlantic partnership, to enhance underwater surveillance in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.