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EURONAVAL
2014 Show Daily - SAAB Double Eagle MK3 PVDS |
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SAAB
showcases the Double Eagle Mk3 Propelled Variable Depth Sonar at Euronaval
2014 |
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Swedish
company SAAB has chosen the 24th Euronaval Naval Defence & Maritime
Exhibition & Conference, which is held in Paris from 27 to 31st
October, to exhibit for the first time a large range of naval remotely
operated systems, such as the Double Eagle Mk3 Propelled Variable Depth
Sonar (PVDS) Mk3. |
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SAAB's
Double Eagle Mk3 PVDS at Euronaval 2014 |
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Underwater
mine reconnaissance operations can be dangerous to both vessels and
crews. As a global leader in maritime technology, Saab provides safe,
reliable solutions that detect mines by travelling ahead to identify
threats. These systems are highly robust and canbe used in even the
harshest environments. Saab’s Double Eagle MkIII Propelled Variable
Depth Sonar (Double Eagle PVDS) provides a perfect example of Saab’s
thinking edge in action. The remotely operated system offers a cost-effective
approach to mine hunting that protects against the threat of maritime
explosives and improves crew safety.
The top mine countermeasures (MCM) choice for many navies around the
world, the system is equipped with a rotatable, forward looking sonar
which increases its detection range and enhances situational awareness
– helping forces stay ahead. With unlimited endurance, the Double
Eagle PVDS offers increased stand-off, as well as a high degree of protection
against the threat of mines. The system can be packed into a standard
container meaning it can be easily lifted from ship to ship, or be transported
by road or air. This efficient stowage capability means that the Double
Eagle PVDS can quickly go where it is needed for optimized MCM operations. |
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SAAB's
Double Eagle Mk3 PVDS at Euronaval 2014
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When
ready to use, the system can be launched from any type of ship, from
the shore, or from a craft of opportunity (COOP).
Traditionally,
mine reconnaissance was performed by an MCM ship with a hull-mounted
or towed sonar, which consumes both time and resources. The Double Eagle
PVDS takes a new approach, and runs several hundred metres ahead of
a ship, using sonar to detect any underwater mines. The mine hunting
sonar is carried in the bow of the vehicle so that it can conduct routine
survey tasks, including underwater search, object detection and classification.
This new concept not only improves ship and crew safety, but also enhances
the performance of the sonar, as it is possible to vary both its depth
and the viewing angle of the target.
During a mission, the Double Eagle PVDS is launched from a ship and
the operator merges it with a track defined from the ship’s tactical
system. The track consists of waypoints that the vehicle navigates between
one at a time until it reaches the end. The operator can change the
track of the vehicle at any time by sending new waypoints, or they can
manually control it and pilot the vehicle to investigate an object of
interest. This capability allows for earlier detection of Mine-Like
Objects (MLOs) and prevents ships from accidentally sailing over a suspicious
item. The use of the track also means that the Double Eagle PVDS can
operate under different layers in the water, e.g. changing salinity
and temperature. This enables it to perform multiple types of MCM mission,
even in adverse conditions and strong currents. |
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SAAB's
Double Eagle Mk3 PVDS at Euronaval 2014 |
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The
robust Double Eagle PVDS has a modular design, offering high levels
of flexibility and short turnaround times for MCM operations. The hydro-dynamically
stable, highly reliable system boasts exceptional performance and low
lifecycle costs, making it an ideal, cost effective choice for operators.
The Double Eagle PVDS comes with all the controls required to manoeuvre
the vehicle, including an Operator Control Board (OCB), a Portable Operator
Control Board (POCB) and software that is ready to run on any general
purpose or dedicated vehicle console. The heart of the control system
is the Surface Control Unit (SCU) which runs the autopilot and interfaces
with all other ship systems. The vehicle is connected to the ship via
a tether. As well as providing vehicle power and control signals, the
tether continuously sends real-time sonar data to the operator on board
the ship.
The Automatic Tension Control Forced Cooling (ATC-FC) winch and the
tether, together with the Tether Protection System (TPS) and the TPS
launcher, allow the system to be operated without risk of the tether
entangling with other underwater ship systems. These features also provide
additional stability to the vehicle when decoupling the ship’s
movements from the vehicle. The cooling of the tether is a prerequisite
for high performance operation over long periods.
The Double Eagle PVDS has a Power Converter Unit (PCU) which converts
the ship’s power to vehicle power. The PCU also includes insulation
monitoring with a circuit breaker for added safety. The system features
a cradle or trolley for vehicle stowage and a Launch and Recovery System
(LARS) for the vehicle.
These tools are used in conjunction with a sea crane on board the ship,
enabling safe, easy launch and recovery of the vehicle. |
