Sonardyne upgrades Sentinel IDS
A new portable variant of Sonardyne’s Sentinel diver detection sonar has been installed at an undisclosed coastal facility in the Middle East, the company announced on 7 April.
Sentinel has been upgraded to enable a single sonar processor topside unit to command each in-water sonar head, halving the previous number needed.
Sentinel is designed to provide underwater surveillance to prevent unauthorised access to military and high security facilities from under the water. It can identify divers and unmanned underwater vehicles approaching ports, harbours, critical national infrastructure, offshore energy platforms and private yachts.
The system uses acoustic signature classification techniques to classify the type of threat detected. Targets are automatically separated from non-threats such as fauna, cetacean, fish and flotsam, ensuring a low false alarm rate and maximum response time for security teams.
Sentinel’s small, lightweight sonar head can be permanently deployed on the seabed, from a jetty or over the side of a patrol vessel and once configured, can be left to run autonomously. It can be used as a standalone security measure or integrated with CCTV, radar and other sensors to enhance the situational awareness picture for large waterside facilities.
The new upgrades will allow users who need a rapidly deployable maritime security capability to protect waterside facilities and vessels against the threat of attack.
Nick Swift, business manager for maritime security, Sonardyne, said: ‘The introduction of a new, more powerful sonar processor for Sentinel demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that, as the threat landscape changes, our underwater technology evolves to keep pace with end-users’ requirements. The reduced footprint of the single head system now makes Sentinel IDS even more suitable for both rapid deployment and permanent installations.’
More from Naval Warfare
-
BMT and DNV partner to meet Australia’s heavy landing craft requirement
Under Project Land 8710 Phase 2, Australia has been seeking to acquire an undisclosed number of Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels to replace the Balikpapan-class. The programme has an estimated value of AU$1.4 billion (US$910 million), with IOC slated for 2032.
-
Babcock to take over upkeep of Royal Navy Type-23 frigates
The Royal Navy’s Type-23 Duke-class frigates for the UK Royal Navy were designed as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships but now have a multi-role function. Of the 16 Type 23s built, 12 remain in service with the Royal Navy and will be replaced by the Type-26 frigates before 2035.
-
Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat
The work took place under the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), which has been a collaboration between Austal, Greenroom Robotics, the Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre and the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Warfare Innovation Navy Branch.
-
Singapore launches fourth and final Type 218SG submarine
The era of southeast Asian submarine modernisation has been in full swing fuelled by growing tensions in the South China Sea.
-
Keel laid for third Hellenic Navy frigate as harbour trials start for first
On 24 March 2022, Greece and Naval Group have signed a contract for three defence and intervention (FDI) frigates. Two warships will be due for delivery in 2025 and the third expected the following year, with the deal including an option to add a fourth frigate to be ready in 2027.