DSEI 2019: SEA unveils trainable decoy launcher system to protect surface platforms.

SEA is launching a Trainable Decoy Launcher System to protect surface platforms from missile and torpedo threats at this month’s DSEI exhibition in London.

Trainable Decoy Launcher (Picture source: SEA)

The system is capable of a wide range of movement, rapidly delivering complex patterns of mixed decoys around platforms. It offers a sophisticated threat processing engine, which can recommend and enact responses to a wide range of threats much more quickly than traditional systems, minimising the need to manoeuvre the ship, improving its effectiveness. The gyro stabilised launcher has a wide range of movement, so that the system can offer countermeasure coverage to both sea skimming and ballistic trajectory threats.

With the speed of missiles increasing and the window in which the surface platform can respond becoming very small, surface platforms require the ability to rapidly and accurately place decoy payloads to maximise their effectiveness.

Steve Hill, Managing Director of SEA, said: “We are very pleased to be unveiling our new Trainable Decoy Launcher System at DSEI, based on our proven launcher technology and combat system expertise. The system offers a highly flexible, reliable and low through-life cost solution with tiered integration options. We look forward to bringing the technology to the industry in London.”

SEA is delivering this new system by partnering with Chess Dynamics and MASS, its fellow Cohort subsidiaries. This partnership leverages a number of important strengths to deliver an advanced solution.

SEA has been delivering and supporting launcher systems for many navies worldwide for over 20 years, and offers full combat system integration services.

Through Chess Dynamics, which is a UK leader for training mechanisms including optical and tracking systems, SEA has incorporated in-service technology, proven through 15+ years of operational service in harsh naval environments where high reliability and low maintenance requirements are key.

MASS has over 35 years’ experience supporting the warfighter in the electronic warfare environment, providing the ability to store and manage electronic warfare (EW) and intelligence data from all sources in a single data management capability. This data can then be used, along with MASS’ modelling and simulation capabilities, to create countermeasures for known threats.

The storage of this EW and intelligence data will allow the operator to create a threat library of known threats in the area of operations, enhancing threat recognition and identification, allowing rapid deployment of the correct and effective countermeasure. New data can also be readily ingested into the data management capability allowing analysts to focus on the new information and to analyse the intelligence. This new intelligence can then be added to existing threat libraries or new threats identified and countermeasures explored and created.

The system is available in a range of flexible configurations, it has support for 130mm and other decoy types, including:

- Chaff
- Flares
- Active rounds
- Expendable torpedo countermeasures
- Rocket/mortar, and mortar launched sub munitions
- Programmable rounds

The system is designed for global operation in a range of military environments. Other features include:

- Configurable ergonomic round loading
- No deck penetration
- Small deck footprint
- Low weight
- Uses proven Seagnat barrels, interchangeable with existing Seagnat systems
- Modular construction allows other types and calibres of payload to be employed

The Trainable Decoy Launcher System will be available in 2020.