Ultra Electronics has installed the first S2150 Hull Mount Sonar on a RN Type 23 frigate HMS Portland according to a 6 April statement.
The new sonar will replace the legacy Sonar Type 2050 which has been used on several RN vessels since the 1990s. Currently plans will see the sonar fitted to at least eight Type 23 ships.
Mike Williams, Managing Director of Command & Sonar Systems said: ‘Reaching this significant milestone has been key for Ultra. With a number of significant challenges from the Sonar 2050 system it replaces, the project team has designed and developed a system that simplifies user operability.’
Smaller and lighter versions of the S2150 have also been produced for naval ships weighing between 1,000t and 2,000t.
The upgrade will enhance the RN’s ASuW capability on its frigates and OPVs.
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.
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.
The era of southeast Asian submarine modernisation has been in full swing fuelled by growing tensions in the South China Sea.
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.
US Congress senators have warned that the US Coast Guard’s fleet cannot protect Arctic waters against Russian naval capabilities.
The AUKUS agreement will support Australia’s purchase of at least eight nuclear-powered submarines under pillar one. Other pillars of the agreement cover high technology such as cyber, unmanned systems, AI, EW, undersea capabilities and information sharing between the three countries.
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