17
Dispatch → Account → Military
by 
The Unitary Technocracy of Etoile Arcture.
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Amphitríte Class Mine Countermeasures Vessel
Amphitrítê Class |
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 Bow view of Amphitrítê class mine countermeasures vessel in non-displacement mode |
Class overview | |
Builders | Amoskeag Iron Works |
Operators |
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Preceded by | Éridan class minehunter/ |
Cost | US$350 million |
Planned | ? |
Completed | ? |
Active | ? |
General characteristics | |
Type | Mine countermeasures/ |
Displacement | Light: 1,025 metric tons |
Length | 90 m |
Beam | 30 m |
Draught | 1-2 m (on cushion) |
Machinery | 2 × Korrodos Drive Systems |
Speed | 55 knots (surface |
Range | 1,400 nmi (surface |
Boats & landing | 2 × Zodiac Hurricane 530 OB |
Life boats | 8 × SOLAS A 20-person |
Complement | 42 officers & enlisted |
Accomodation | 75 overflow passengers |
Sensors and | Thales TACTICOS Baseline 3 |
Electronic | Rafael SEWS-DV with |
Armament | 1 × Dory Close-In Gun |
Aircraft carried | 1 × MH-80A Barracuda plus |
The Amphitrítê (M-21) class is a high-speed ocean-going mine countermeasures vessel (MCMV) combining the roles of active mine hunter and mine sweeper into a single economical hull. It is designed to detect, classify and neutralise all types of passive buoyant moored and drifting (floating) and sea bottom mines in blue water (deep open-ocean), green water (shallow coastal/littoral zone) and brown water (inland traffic way) operational areas. Missions can include protecting friendly surface and sub-surface assets and critical infrastructure. The vessel operates as a host platform that can launch, recover, plan and monitor sorties by a range of unmanned systems including unmanned surface, aerial and underwater vehicles that can act as off-board sensors for the mothership safely staying outside of suspected minefield boundaries. Self-protection is provided by an electronic warfare suite including radar and electro-optic jammers and expendable multi-spectral decoys. It is fitted with a self-defence armament consisting of a medium-calibre 40 mm cased telescoped ammunition and gun system, anti-air missile system and 12.7 mm heavy machine guns on remote-operated fully stabilized trainable deck mounts.
The ship is an air-cushion catamaran (ACC) design featuring twin buoyancy hulls with axial-pumped waterjets and refined propellers (WARP) and dual lift fans that pressurize an air cushion contained by retractable bow and stern flexible skirts. The air cushion reduces wave-making resistance for improved propulsive efficiency and a reduced above and underwater signature. It has a wet deck clearance of 2 metres off-cushion and 5 metres on-cushion that allow the vessel to navigate shipping channels and very close to shore, with a reduced shallow static draught limit of 1 metre for increased survivability in the event of a mine encounter. The sea frame features a high-length-to-beam ratio that decreases wave drag resistance with a large deck area and internal volume to carry a greater payload at lower displacement than a monohull of equivalent length. It provides good transverse stability and seakeeping qualities in Sea State 6 conditions at speeds up to 20 knots (37 kph) in displacement or hullborne mode and up to 55 knots (101 kph) in non-displacement or hoverborne mode. A digital automatic active ride control system (ARCS) using servo-operated roll fins, trim tabs and T-foils provides high effective pitch, roll and yaw stabilisation for high manoeuvrability across the speed range. Waterjet and air cushion propulsion systems are independently powered in a combined gas turbine and gas turbine (COGAG) arrangement with a high power-to-weight ratio and low specific fuel consumption. The machinery allows high transit speeds for rapid deployment, economical cruising for long-range endurance and quiet low-speed manoeuvrability for sweeping operations. Diesel generator sets produce electrical power for use by hotel services, auxiliary systems, mission equipment and weapons.
To enhance survivability against surface and subsurface threats the ship is designed along low observability principles operating across the full signature spectrum with,
Above water and underwater acoustic and hydroacoustic signature reduction by minimisation of water flow and vibration-induced radiated noise by low frictional drag resistance of the hullform with gel-coated, sand-blasted smooth surface, Amitto carboxy-terminated butadiene nitrile (CTBN) visco-elastic sound damping in interior spaces and high anti-cavitation capability of the waterjet and refined propeller propulsors;
Minimisation of underwater electrical potential and magnetic signature that can trigger influence fuzes by extensive use of fire-resistant phenolic resin impregnated glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GRP) internal piping and fittings, and non-ferrous metal (low-magnetic austenitic stainless steel) construction and carbon fibre gearboxes and shafts in machinery;
Elimination of electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation or leakage and MIL-STD-461G compliant electromagnetic magnetic pulse (EMP) protection by Faraday cage enclosures for electronic equipment, conductive sealings on doors and hatches, usage of redundant optical fibre backhaul data networks immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI) including a sensor network for automatic detection of battle damage (flooding, fire, etc), and shielding and filtering of high current electric busbars of the ship mains services;
Radar cross-section (RCS) reduction by inclined angles of the hull and superstructure to control radar reflectivity, elimination of corner reflectors by radar-absorbent material (RAM) surrounding exterior windows, hatches, intakes and uptakes, and concealment of equipment in flush mountings and weapon mounts on the weather deck by facetted housings made from fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) sandwich panels;
Thermal signature reduction by infrared absorbent paint, masking of hot spots by compact smoke stacks behind the integrated mast and engine exhaust outlets close to the waterline on the wet deck;
Reduction of pressure signature by the low density catamaran hulls and cancellation of 80% of the vessel weight by lifting out of the water when using the air cushion system;
Minimisation of optical signatures by a low visual profile and 'haze gray' colour scheme that breaks up of vertical patterns and reduces ship contrast with the horizon.
Primary structural materials use lightweight carbon fibre (CF) composites that are five times stronger, stiffer and lighter than steel, offer good shock, blast, fire and corrosion resistance, and have low radar, acoustic and magnetic signatures. The load-bearing elements are single-piece high tensile strength stiffening members made by a closed mould vacuum infusion process (VIP) and bonded with high-strength joints using epoxy resin adhesives. The watertight hulls are created from keels, bulkheads, frames, stringers and beams supporting a shell of integrally stiffened composite hull and deck plating made from a carbon fibre sandwich with Nomex honeycomb core. Critical areas of the hulls including the fuel, munitions, machinery, electronics and habitation spaces are double reinforced by high strength-to-weight ratio members to sustain high structural stresses and clad with carbon-kevlar (CK) laminate armour plating made by a resin film infusion (RFI) process rated to STANAG 4569 protection levels to mitigate impact, blast and spalling effects.
The superstructure is a centreline integrated deck house with a large bridge offering high panoramic visibility from transparent ceramic aluminium oxynitride glazed windows, an enclosed central-mast structure housing principal surveillance sensors, electronic warfare and communication systems, and a telescopic hangar with segmented sections that move under cable drive actuation. The hangar can accommodate a single medium twin helicopter or one or two vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicles (VTUAV). A large aft flight deck with STANAG 1276 Heligrid anchoring landing grid system supports aviation operations in high sea states. There are two stern ramps and an electrically operated crane to enable the launch and recovery of unmanned surface vehicles (USV) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV)./
The operations room (OpsRoom), machinery spaces, and habitation and medical areas are located in armoured enclaves on the lower deck to protect them against topside damage and above the waterline to limit flood damage. All compartments are airtight citadels (i.e., safe working environments) providing environmental protection from fire and explosion with a STANAG 4317 fire detection and suppression system using salt water sprinklers, and clean agent extinguishers in machinery spaces and aqueous film-forming foam on the flight deck, hangar, ammunition and fuel spaces, and from smoke and contamination by chemical warfare agents, biological aerosols and radiological particulates by a STANAG 4447 central air filtration system and STANAG 4634 overpressure collective protection system integrated with the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) plants. The ship supports crew berthing for 42 officers and enlisted personnel including the aviation detachment and embarked passenger berthing for an additional 75 personnel.
Mechanical, electrical and auxilary systems
The vessel is propelled on dual augmented thrust waterjet propulsors comprising a waterjet and refined propeller (WARP) propulsion unit in each fully submerged side hull. The side hulls have a parabolic waterline and semi-elliptical cross-section with a low wetted surface that improves seakeeping ability and a small radial dimension to allow shallow draught operation. The propulsors have an axial inline layout that is composed of an integrated scoop-type inlet duct, low cavitation single-stage axial flow impeller blades and stator vanes that develop water pressure to generate thrust, a rear outlet nozzle and fully wetted controllable pitch propeller (CPP) with efficient highly skewed i.e. scimitar propeller blades. The accelerated water flow from the jet enhances the propulsive power and efficiency of the propeller, with an inlet closing system that allows better control and manoeuvrability, and the ability to reverse the direction of thrust. Both systems can be independently controlled allowing for greater flexibility and efficiency in different operational conditions. The waterjets are more efficient than propellers in shallow water or in areas with debris or obstacles, as they can operate in these conditions without damage or loss of thrust, while the propellers allow for fuel-efficient cruising in open water conditions. Both propulsion systems are used simultaneously to provide extra thrust and manoeuvrability for high-speed dash operation in deep waters.
The plenum (air cushion) system, which is located between the side hulls and bow and aft skirts, uses high-pressure air to create a cushion of air under the ship that reduces friction with the water surface for higher efficiency and speeds, and can "lift" the ship entirely out of the water to travel over shallow waters or obstacles. The pressurised air is provided by dual independent Powerdyne electric mixed-flow lift fans consisting of a scroll-type fan casing (or volute) with a radial inlet to draw in air that is accelerated by multiple twisted and tapered impeller blades both lifting and directing the airflow in an axial direction to exit through a conical outlet. An optimal ratio between the fan intake diameter and blade tip trailing edge swept diameter inside the volute balances pressure and airflow rates increasing efficiency allowing for a compact size and small footprint. An electric rim-driven propulsor (RDP) mounted on the bow provides transverse thrust for low-speed manoeuvrability and precision station keeping.
The primary propulsion sources are high-torque electric induction motors. Power is supplied by two Korrodos Drive Systems Hyperion gas turbine alternator (GTA) prime movers with digital electronic controls that are based on a twin-spool, high-pressure ratio gas generator and free power turbine. They are each coupled to a four-pole permanent magnet alternator (PMA) that rotates on a common shaft to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy, and high-voltage DC/AC power inverters to synchronise current and frequency to a Korrodos Drive Systems three-phase asynchronous AC induction motor. Generators and motors are ganged up in pairs by cross-connected transmissions that can be disconnected allowing the ship to be powered by any single engine/motor in event of a primer mover casualty. The ship electrical distribution system contains triple-redundant busbars for the main and emergency switchboards that supply all power for a wide range of systems and equipment including to energise sensors, weapons and mission systems, and propulsion and ship services. Auxiliary power for electrical systems is provided by a trifector of Sandiesel ship service diesel generator sets (SSDG) consisting of a compact liquid-cooled direct fuel injection four-stroke diesel engine driving a two-pole permanent magnet synchronous generator. The power train is highly efficient and reliable with low maintenance requirements, able to be started and stopped quickly, and operate in a wide range of environmental conditions.
A twin module Manticore Multi-Role Gun and Missile System with non-deck-penetrating ISO mountings and standard electrical and network interfaces is located on the foredeck and above the helicopter hangar. The forward mount is a Dory Close-In Gun System, a multi-threat (air and surface), multi-environment (land and naval), medium calibre gun system based on the CTAS 40 mm L/70 cased-telescoped ammunition (CTA) automatic cannon and ammunition suite. It has a fully automatic loading system with a total of 210 rounds of ready-to-fire ammunition stowed in two magazines. Ammunition types include point detonating and air-bursting munitions, armour-piercing kinetic penetrators and 25 mm subcalibre laser-guided rounds. It is capable of engaging air threats to a maximum range of 2,500 m (~8.200 ft) and surface threats to a maximum range of 4,000 m (~13,2123 ft). The aft mount is a Xiphos Inner Layer Missile System composed of a turntable mount and twin elevating 12-pack canister launchers for RIM-199A Xyston short-range air defence missiles. The system includes on-mount radar, laser and optronic directors and integral fire control system for standalone operation. The missiles can engage highly manoeuvrable air threats to a maximum range of 8,000 m (~26,426 ft). Leonardo Lionfish Top fully stabilised self-contained remote-controlled weapon stations cover all four ship quarters, mounting a 12.7×99 mm NATO (0.5-in calibre) heavy machine gun. They provide close-in protection from asymmetric and swarming surface and underwater threats including stand-off neutralisation of mine and torpedo threats. They have fast-into-action times and high tracking and firing accuracy with on-mount directors. Firing Cav-X supercavitating ammunition the machine guns have an effective range of 2,200 m (~7,217 ft) in air and of 60 m (~196 ft) with low-angle water entry without altering trajectory.
Sensors and electronic warfare systems
Acoustic suite
The primary acoustic sensor is a Klein Marine System 5900 multi-beam side-scan/gap-filler sonar that is used for Q-route surveillance and sweeping of shallow and deep waters for a variety of mines, and can also be employed for underwater infrastructure monitoring, and hydrography and oceanography tasks. The system comprises a sonar transceiver, processor unit and interface unit housed in standard 19-inch rack mounts and towed array variable-depth sonar with multi-channel fan-beam transducers (up to 20 beams per side, per ping with FM-Chirp transmit coding) with a 1.8 m acoustic aperture for high-speed, high-resolution coverage. The system is optimized for multi-path and surface reverberation suppression and can build up and maintain a sonar picture of the seabed even in difficult sea conditions using dynamic focus and electronic beam steering for 100% bottom coverage and nadir gap flling. It operates on various frequencies from 50 kHz for long-range, medium-resolution imaging, 100 kHz for short-range, high-resolution imaging, 100/500 kHz for simultaneous insonification of target areas, and 3.5 kHz for penetration into the near sub-bottom area of the seabed to detect buried objects. The sensors are housed in a K-Wing IV non-magnetic hydrodynamically stable underwater towed-body "fish" incorporating an actuated depressor wing and active control surfaces for bottom following and dynamic positioning guided by inertial navigation and a terrain following acoustic altimeter. The tow fish is negatively buoyant and does not need a separate depressor incorporating a tail and drogue assembly to improve stability and simplify deployment and recovery. It can operate at speeds from 2-12 knots to a maximum depth of 750 m while tethered to a variable depth electric winch by a 3,000 m Kevlar-reinforced fibre optic data/tow cable. High-resolution sonar imagery of underwater objects and terrain features is obtained by mosaicing of multiple swaths of geocoded sector scan images into a continuous sonar image map that can be fused with hydrographic and bathymetric data from other sensors. Constant false alarm rate (CFAR) adaptive algorithms analyse the sonar imagery in realtime to detect, classify, localise and identify buoyant and moored mines against noise, external clutter and interference.
Radar suite
The primary surveillance radar is a Thales Naval System 50 (NS50) compact dual-axis multi-beam multi-role air and surface surveillance and fire control mast array radar with a wide field of view that provides full hemispheric coverage around the ship using mechanical rotation and multiple digitally formed beams. The NS50 is based on solid-state active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology using IEEE X-band (NATO H/I-band) solid-state transmit/receive modules integrated into a single, flat, fast-rotating phased array antenna. The system has a maximum instrumented range of 180 km (~97 nmi) and is capable of high-resolution radar imaging of terrain including coastal areas, ports and harbours. Using advanced signal processing techniques such as pulse compression and Doppler processing it can simultaneously detect, track and classify multiple small and low-lying objects, including asymmetric threats and very small objects such as mines and periscopes, and low-flying targets including manned and unmanned aircraft and rotorcraft and tactical missiles, in adverse weather conditions and in heavy clutter and jamming environments. Using advanced tracking algorithms it provides highly accurate and instantaneous indication of azimuth, range, elevation and radial velocity i.e., four-dimensional ('4D') information to provide fire control quality track data to ship-borne weapon systems.
The secondary surveillance radar is a Kelvin Hughes MK 11 SharpEye surface search and navigation radar that provides situational awareness in the vicinity of the vessel. It can function as both an adjunct to the main radar system and as a redundancy in case of damage or failure of the main radar. It is a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) or "frequency agile" coherent pulse-Doppler radar sensor based on an upmast solid-state IEEE S-band (NATO E/F-band) transceiver and low-profile antenna group. It uses pulse compression with Doppler processing to filter out unwanted clutter allowing small object detection in all weather conditions and in high sea states. This enables target detection and range discrimination of low signature targets, including rigid inflatable boats, at instrumented ranges from 50 m (~164 ft) to 44.45 km (24 nmi). it is directly integrated with the ship's electronic chart system (ECS) and includes identification friend-or-foe (IFF) and automatic information system (AIS) deconfliction equipment also providing non-cooperative target tracking by quickly recognizing traffic trends and anomalous behaviour.
Electro-optical suite
The primary passive sensor is a Thales Mirador MK 2 lightweight, compact, digital electro-optical surveillance/fire-control director that provides distant optical investigation, laser range finding and missile and gunnery fire control. It is a two-axis stabilised fully trainable multi-sensor turret containing an electo-optical payload of colour, black and white and low-light-level zoom TV cameras and midwave infrared camera for short and long-range observation, detection and tracking, and 40 km (21.6 nmi) range Class 1M eye-safe laser range finder with optronic tracking unit to obtain accurate target position indication. The sensors are housed in a rugged carbon fibre shell and operated by precision direct-drive servo controls capable of fast slewing rates even under extreme environmental conditions. The system provides accurate target data for small and medium calibre gun and short-range missile systems for anti-surface and anti-air engagements. It has an automatic target acquisition capability without operator intervention during autonomous sector scans or following an external target designation or cued by an on- or off-board sensor.
Electronic warfare suite
Electronic self-protection is provided by a Rafael SEWS-DV digital shipboard electronic warfare suite integrated with onboard combat and data systems and can be operated by a single individual. It contains two major subsystems with frequency coverage from 0.5 to 40 GHz (L, S, C, X, and J) NATO ECM radio bands:
The Rafael C-Pearl-DV combined electronic intelligence (ELINT) and electronic support measures (ESM) system is capable of real-time signal detection, analysis and identification of threats including airborne radars, surface radars and missile seekers. it contains a single 360° field-of-regard compact lightweight around-the-mast antenna array and instantaneous frequency measurement (IFM) and instantaneous direction-finder (IDF) wide-open multi-channel digital receivers.
The Rafael Digital SHaRK offensive and defensive electronic countermeasure (ECM) system is capable of simultaneous jamming and deception using dual mechanically and electronically steered multi-beam phased array transmitters (MBAT), each covering 180° in azimuth, to allow immediate positioning of high effective radiated power (ERP) transmitter beams in the direction of identified threats. It contains digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) techniques generators to synthesise waveforms and digital beamforming (DBF) technology for fast beam switching to simultaneously counter a large number of multi-directional air and surface threats.
Two Rheinmetall 32-tube Multi Ammunition Soft-kill System (MASS) fully-trainable, stabilised, lightweight carbon fibre decoy launching systems are mounted to port and starboard to provide total 360° azimuthal coverage. The launchers are integrated with the ship's electronic warfare and combat systems to provide perimeter protection against concurrent multiple threats in multiple directions by launching in a time-staggered pattern to distract, confuse or seduce incoming missile threats. The ammunition consists of Rheinmetall 81 m calibre Omni Trap programmable omni-spectral decoys that function across a wide electromagnetic spectrum range of radar, infrared, electro-optic, laser and ultraviolet wavebands.
The vessels are controlled by two tightly coupled and integrated infrastructure platforms built on a common digital open system distributed architecture of interoperable modular plug-and-fight command and control (C²) systems. They provide a comprehensive view of the battlespace and automation of many tasks to reduce the cognitive load of commanders and operators, enabling them to make effective and efficient decisions and execute mission tasks in a complex threat environment. They consist of a Thales TACTICOS Baseline 3 Combat Management System (CMS) that includes radar and sonar processing, and navigation, communications, target detection and tracking, and gun and missile fire control functions; and a TACTICOS-based Thales M-Cube Mission Management System (MMS) providing multi-sensor data fusion of on- and off-board sonar and radar information to classify and localize contacts and to plan, execute and assess the results of mine countermeasure operations. The human-machine interface consists of common reconfigurable Thales Multi-Function Operator Console (MOC) MK 4 ruggedised crew stations with ten consoles plus Collaboration Table and Collaboration Wall in the operations room (OpsRoom) showing the common operational picture (COP) to support command teams across all stages of naval and mine countermeasures (MCM) operations, and a console each in the machinery control room (MCR) and the pilot house as part of the Integrated Bridge and Navigation system (IBNS). A Thales Fibre Optical Communication Network (FOCON) based on a dual-redundant multi-point-to-multi-point IP-based shipboard local area network (LAN) provides a dual-redundant ship intranet that integrates all the mission systems, sensors, processors (distributed in eight electronics cabinets) and the operator consoles. A Thales Aquilon Fully Integrated Communications System (FICS) provides centralised management of internal and external communications including voice-over-IP (VoIP) public address systems, cryptographically secure anti-jam voice radio, and Thales TopLink and Link Y MK 2 high data rate tactical datalinks compatible with NATO Improved Link Eleven (NILE) i.e., Link 11/22 messaging standards allowing the sharing of large volumes of tactical information over self-managing and adaptive radio networks.
The vessel can launch and recover unmanned surface, underwater and aerial vehicles capable of over-the-horizon reconnaissance of areas of interest and stand-off identification and nuetralisation of mine threats in day/night adverse weather conditions, using high-frequency radio, underwater acoustic communications (acomms) and line-of-sight underwater wireless optical communications (UWOC to control and monitor the vehicles. The main equipment consists of battery-powered semi/fully-autonomous self-propelled free-swimming autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV)/uninhabited undersea vehicles (UUV), autonomous surface vehicles (ASV)/uninhabited surface vehicles (USV), remotely operated vehicles (ROV)/expendable mine disposal vehicles (EMDV), and turbine-powered vertical take-off uninhabited aerial vehicles (VTUAV) to carry and deploy sensor payloads and effectors.
The Chimaera Class Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) is based on the major components of the MK 61 Mod 0 Vortice Heavyweight Torpedo, sharing the same aluminium silver-oxide seawater primary battery and propelled by the same direct-drive brushless motor and pumpjet propulsor. The components are packaged inside a high compression strength corrosion resistant S-Glass/carbon fibre reinforced polymer composite hull depth rated to 4,500-6,000 m (~14,800-19,685 ft) and weighs 1,370 kg (~3,000 lb) in air. It has a tear drop shaped laminar flow hydrodynamic shape optimised for low drag, high manoeuvrability and long endurance, with a short 7:1 length-to-diameter ratio (L/D) and large diameter to maximise internal hull volume. The vehicle is designed to be compatible with submarine heavyweight torpedo handling and firing systems but is is 50% the length of a 533 mm diameter/6.4 m length (21"/21') heavyweight torpedo allowing twice the number of vehicles to be stored in torpedo racks. It has a 100-hour endurance at 3 knots (5.56 kph) and a sprint speed of 4.5 knots (8.33 kph). It is employed in littoral areas of interest to provide rapid wide-area search and mapping of the sea bed to provide precise location and classification of mine-like objects and identification of the boundaries of mined areas. It is equipped with a dynamically focused multibeam side scan synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) system consisting of full-length interferometric arrays on either side of the hull to provide dual simultaneous high-resolution 3D sonar imaging at a slightly different geometry for gathering 200 m (~218 yd) interferometric swaths during the vehicle's motion. The payload also includes a multibeam echo sounder using a fan of narrow acoustic beams for 100% coverage mapping of the seafloor, a sub-bottom profiler for identifying and characterising layers of sediment or rock under the seafloor, and a magnetometer to detect and localise metallic objects. It is capable of in-mission autonomy using a parametric database and analytical computer with Harvard architecture many-core processor and vector array signal processor for realtime sensor collection and analysis by Python machine learning algorithms. Self-guidance is provided by in-mission micronavigation that correlates SAS, echo sounder and Doppler-aided inertial positioning data inputs to a digital autopilot with auto-depth, auto-heading, auto-hover and auto-hold modes.
The Mantaray Class Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) is a semi/fully-autonomous uninhabited underwater vehicle (UUV) designed for for detailed reconnaissance of surf zones, waterways, and port areas to detect, classify, and identify volume, proud and buried mines and mine-like objects against dense clutter. It weighs 1,000 kg (2,204 lb) in air and consists of a "flat fish" low-drag hull design 1.1 m (43⅓ in) in breadth and 0.6 m (23¼ in) in height constructed from moulded high-impact, corrosion and UV-resistant plastic enclosing a carbon fibre (CF) wound composite pressure vessel rated to depths of 350-500 m (~1,148-1,640 ft). A digital autopilot can be pre-programmed for automatic route following. It can be accoustically tracked at distances up to 1,000 m (~1,093 yd) by an ultra-short baseline (USBL) underwater positioning system coinsisting of a transciver on the ship and transponder/responder on the subsea vehicle. It is propelled by four independent, reversible electric motors and a hover thruster that provide six degrees of freedom manoeuvring and stability in currents up to 4 knots (7.41 kph). It is powered by silver-zinc seawater batteries allowing a 6-hour mission endurance at speeds up to 6 knots (11.11 kph) and a mission radius of 120 nmi (~224 km) for a total search coverage of 650 nmi² (~748 km²). It is equipped with underwater imaging systems for navigation, surveying and close-up inspection of objects including a high resolution, wide dynamic range low-light-level monochrome TV camera and ultra low lux colour TV navigation camera with energy-efficient high-intensity array LED lighting to provide underwater illuminance. Both cameras have a realtime image signal processor (ISP) pipeline to mitigate resolution and contrast loss from optical backscatter and low visibility (turbid) conditions. It is equipped with bidirectional, high data-rate, long-range, underwater communication systems to transmit and receive realtime sonar and EO data and command signals including a Teledyne Benthos Ultra Compact Modem (UCM) acoustic communication system, and AquaOptical II underwater point-to-point optical communication system utilising blue light of high underwater transmittance using an 18-LED array transmitter and multi-pixel photon counter receiver.
The Ulysses Class Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) is ...
The Killjoy Mine Identification and Neutralisation Vehicle (MIDNV) is a self-propelled hybrid remotely operated vehicle (ROV)/expendable mine destructor vehicle (EMDV) with fully semi/autonomous waypoint navigation and self-homing guidance. It weighs 70 kg (~154 lb) in air and can be carried and launched off standard weapon racks from a crewed or uncrewed air, surface or undersea host platform. The hull is a 50 cm (~19⅔ in) by 1.5 m (~60 in) constant cylindrical aluminium body with a transparent ogive nose housing solid-state sensors including a dual-frequency three-dimensional (3D) forward-looking sonar (FLS) and high-resolution colour TV camera with quad LED illuminators for unexploded ordnance (UXO) survey and inspection. The 3D FLS use low-frequency (LF) sonar for long-range detection of objects in the water column, high-frequency (HF) sonar for 2D imaging for object classification, and dual interleaved LF/HF sonar for 3D imaging (range, bearing and velocity) to self-home on targets and obstacle and terrain avoidance. It has a depth rating of 200-300 m (~656-984 ft) allowing inspection of targets of interest and prosecution of identified mine threats in shallow to deep waters including all long and short tethered moored buoyant mines, proud (i.e., uncovered) bottom mines, and floating or drifting mines. it is propelled by twin 360° rotating 20 cm (~8 in) electric rim-driven propulsor/propeller (RDP) mounted at the midbody, with a 30-minute endurance at 8 knots (51.82 kph) under adverse current and flow conditions and 9-hour endurance at 2 knots (3.7 kph) on a lithium–sulfur dioxide (LiSO2) primary i.e., non-rechargeable battery. After verification it can neutralise mine threats by precision placement of a shaped-charge jet impact (SJI) to penetrate the mine body and initiate a high-order sympathetic detonation in even insensitive high-explosive (IHE) fills.
The E/AQS-03(V) LAMDa (Lightweight Airborne Mine Detector) is a fully self-contained podded mine countermeasures (MCM) sensor payload to detect, classify and localise drifting, floating and near-surface moored mines. It is externally carried on a standard bomb rack attached to a stores pylon and electrically and electronically integrated by MIL-STD-1760 interface to a host platform e.g., MQ-59A Mosquito uncrewed and MH-80A Barracuda and MCH-120A Pelican crewed rotorcraft and SV-22A Osprey compound aircraft. It provides a line-of-sight capability for rapid wide-area reconnaissance and assessment of mine threats in the ≈100 m (~326 ft range/depth zone where mine-hunting sonar is least effective. The main instrument is a three-dimensional ('3D') streak tube light imaging lidar (STIL) system based around a coherent pulsed laser transmitter and ultra-high sensitivity photocathode streak tube receiver. The system collects high-contrast polarimetric imagery as high-resolution range, intensity and contrast information from the backscatter of laser light in the blue-green (BG) region of the spectrum with relatively low attenuation in air and water. The laser source is a solid-state gallium nitride (GaN) diode-pumped Q-switched pulsed laser diode tunable between 450-550 nm wavelengths and modulation between 100-500 Hz pulse repetition frequencies for optimum performance in challenging environmental conditions of cloud and haze, fluctuating rough sea surface and high current turbidity. The system can instantaneously image the entire water column as a 3D scene with a laser pulse-burst and discriminate targets against background clutter using low false alarm rate target recognition algorithms to minimize false-target indication and a GPS/GNSS correlator to obtain precise target locations.
Submarines | Mako Class Fast Attack Submarine - Vengeance Class Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine - Delphine Class Hunter/Killer Submarine |
Aircraft Carriers | Nova Class Multi-Role Aircraft Carrier - Hercules Class Attack Aircraft Carrier |
Major Surface Combatants | Accension Class Global Cruiser - Kali Class Air Defence Cruiser Cygnus Class Multi-Purpose Destroyer - Finisterre Class Multi-Mission Destroyer - Quadrant Class Multi-Mission Frigate - Siren Class Surveillance Frigate |
Minor Surface Combatants | Meteor Class Multi-Role Corvette - Cetus Class Patrol Vessel |
Mine Warfare Vessels | Amphitrite Class Mine Countermeasures Vessel - Kraken Class Mine Warfare Vessel |
Amphibious Warfare Vessels | New Corinth Class Amphibious Assault Ship - Andromeda Class Amphibious Assault Ship |
Amphibious Transport Docks | Pelrine Class Landing Platform Dock - Thorndale Class Landing Ship Dock |
Landing Ships and craft | Richmond Heights Class Landing Ship Transport - Bonito Class Heavy Landing Craft Air Cushion |
Command And Support Ships | Costaguana Class Amphibious Command Ship - Gyre Class Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ship |
Arsenal Ships | |
Hospital Ships | Coalition Class Hospital Ship |
Replenishment Ships | Barque Class Fast Combat Support Ship - Demeter Class Replenishment Oiler - Provider Class Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ship |
Logistical Support Ships | Engadine Class Roll-On/Roll-Off Vehicle Cargo Ship |
Research Vessels |
