Landing the Big One

Landing the Big One

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Inshore Undersea Warfare: Diver Detection Systems

Anyone who has ever worked in the inshore undersea warfare area knows that diver detection long has  been an issue. Over the years there have been lots of people seeking a solution to detecting, classifying and directing responses to the sub-surface threats in inshore waters.

Marine Technology says that Israeli Navy installs advanced underwater AquaShield detection system:
The latest defense system makes Israel “100 percent impervious to all such attacks”, says a senior Israeli Naval officer in a press statement.

“The chances of a diver infiltrating the system are zero. The system is proven and constitutes a sea barrier for Israel,” the naval officer explained.
AquaShieldDDS system  (courtesy DSIT)
I don't know about that 100%, but some details are available from the company that developed "Aquashield" DSIT:
Building on its technical and operational experience in sonar and underwater acoustic systems for naval applications, DSIT has developed an innovative, cost-effective Diver Detection Sonar (DDS) system, the AquaShield™, that provides critical coastal and offshore protection of sites through detecting, tracking, and warning of unauthorized divers and SDVs for effective response.
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AquaShield™ DDS systems operate in all weather and water conditions. The system’s flexibility enables rapid deployment and adjustment to specific site conditions. The DDS sensors can be integrated with other sensors into a comprehensive command and control (C&C) system to provide a complete tactical picture both above and below the water for more intelligent evaluation of and effective response to the threat.
Brochures about the product are available at the bottom of this DSIT webpage here.

DSIT is not alone providing such sonar equipment. Another company is Sonardyne which produces the "Sentinel Diver Detection System" and also this video of how its system might be used:



Sentinel is the world’s most widely deployed intruder detection sonar, developed to meet the underwater security requirements of private, commercial, government and naval end users.

The system reliably detects, tracks and classifies divers and small underwater vehicles approaching a protected asset from any direction and alerts security personnel to the potential threat. Whether it is protecting a critical infrastructure facility, offshore platform, sea port or super yacht at anchor, Sentinel’s autonomous monitoring capabilities, long range detection and proven low false alarm rates, provide a rapidly deployable, 360° underwater security solution for any application.

Sentinel takes reliable, long range underwater intruder detection to a new level and since its first introduction in 2006, has been shown to outperform far more expensive and complex technologies. The system is small, lightweight, has a low false alarm rate and once configured, can be left to operate autonomously.
PDF on the Sentinel system here

Other systems are available from Kongsberg, Saab, Atlas Elektronik, FarSounder, and BSSHolland. Sample brochure:

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous8:12 PM

    !00%, no, another tool in the toolbox, certainly.

    It would be much like relying 100% on GPS for all navigation. As a tool, it's handy, but if one doesn't cross check with other means, such as visual and radar, running aground has a higher probability (EG. USS Port Royal).

    Shadow

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