General Dynamics Canada to enhance Portuguese Navy sonar system

General Dynamics Canada will install an adjunct processing system on three VASCO DA GAMA-class frigates of the Portuguese Navy. The company announced that it would perform the work, which will improve Portugal's ability to detect and localise potential threats on or under the surface of the water, on 14 April.

The ECLIPSE adjunct processor provides the in-service AN/SQS-510 sonar systems with enhanced operational capability to detect submarines and torpedoes.

The system will work in parallel with the AN/SQS-510, leveraging the data collected from the existing sonar system. The addition of the ECLIPSE processing system will significantly improve the ability to detect and characterise echoes and sounds transmitted through the water to determine location and physical characteristics of potential threats. 

David Ibbetson, vice president, General Dynamics C4 Systems International, said: ‘General Dynamics Canada has a 40-year history of providing and supporting underwater systems and components to navies around the world. As the original designer and manufacturer of the AN/SQS-510 hull-mounted sonar system, we are pleased to bring new capabilities to this valuable and trusted system.’ 

ECLIPSE also provides new ways of displaying the processed sonar information, with greater detail in a simplified format that allows operators to detect contacts earlier, and with more clarity than before. The information is displayed on new, state-of-the-art high-resolution flat panel monitors. The system also provides enhanced capabilities for training as well as record and replay of acoustic data. All of these improvements are installed without enlarging the footprint or weight of the system in the ship, or increasing the number of sonar operators. 

The AN/SQS-510 medium-frequency hull-mounted sonar is currently in service on ships in use with the Portuguese, Canadian and Bulgarian navies.