British
company Blue Bear Systems Research (BBSR) is promoting its autonomous
sonobuoy deployment (ASD) capability that significantly enhances anti-submarine
warfare (ASW) operations. The system, which combines hardware and software,
has been developed the globally recognised specialists in the design,
development, evaluation and implementation of unmanned systems. BBSR
supplies leading military and industry customers around the world, including
the UK Ministry of Defence. The company sees enormous potential for
ASD, which is designed for use with both manned and unmanned rotary
wing and fixed wing maritime platforms. |
Enhanced
precision and safety, together with reduced costs, are key benefits
of ASD. The system is pre-programmed by the user selecting the desired
pattern of sonobuoy deployment. ASD then automatically determines the
most efficient route to drop the buoys, which only happens when it is
safe to do so. The system takes information from existing onboard systems
such as AIS, Air Data Units, radar and Identification Friend or Foe
(IFF) and weather conditions.
Deployment can be achieved at low or medium altitude automatically,
leaving the crew free to concentrate on locating the submarine threat.
No new equipment is involved and minimal training is required.
The capability has been demonstrated on the Royal Navy frigate HMS Iron
Duke. It visualises the automated deployment of sonobuoys from an AW159
6 tonne class maritime helicopter and/or a 2 to 3 tonne class Rotary
Wing UAS (RUAS) . Once deployed, the sonobuoy information can be processed
by an onboard acoustic processor on the AW159, the RUAS or relayed to
a ship via a smaller 150kg class RUAS.
Dr Yoge Patel, BBSR's Chief Executive Officer, said, "Autonomous
systems are fundamental to the future effectiveness of anti-submarine
warfare. We are keen for a worldwide audience to have the opportunity
to see our innovative sonobuoy deployment system integrated into manned
and unmanned platforms." |
