Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Navy submarine sonar equipment are the most advanced

Korea “security” incidents, once again led the Navy on submarines and other underwater national target detection capability of the attention. According to foreign reports, the U.S. Navy to enhance anti-submarine capability, ready to use on the future of a new sonar technology that is continuously active sonar technology (CAS). U.S. Elegante Enke is developing such a detection system that can continuously transmit signals, sonar operator can simultaneously hear the voice of submarines, surface ships, so that faster detection of enemy ships. The new equipment would be the next anti-submarine warfare will produce what kind of impact? Xinhua interview with the Navy Military Institute Cao Weidong researcher.

Weidong: I have seen the report. Sonar is the English “Sound navigation and ranging” abbreviation transliteration, Chinese language means “sound navigation and ranging.” Later, into underwater acoustic navigation and positioning equipment for short. Currently, almost all of the underwater acoustic instruments and equipment are known as sonar.

because it was discovered that the sound can spread in water, and a speed of 1435 meters per second. So this study created a sonar sound waves in the water emission targets to control test equipment. When the submarine after the advent of sonar detection equipment has become major. Navy anti-submarine sonar there is a common hull sonar, towed sonar, dipping sonar three, the structural principle similar, but different carriers. Often used on ships hull sonar, towed sonar and towed sonar used on anti-submarine aircraft, helicopter towed sonar used, dipping sonar.

submarine voyage, there are two states, one in the water, the second is under water. When the submarine in the water when sailing, to detect surface ships to detect it is the same, you can use radar and telescopes. However, when the submarine underwater, detecting them is much more complex than the water, commonly used in sonar detection equipment, noise meter, sonobuoys, magnetic anomaly detectors, infrared detectors and so on. In the current sonar used in various countries, mainly in passive sonar, the submarine is to rely on receiving sound to detect submarines. The use of continuous active sonar technology is indeed a great innovation. This now appears continuous active sonar technology (CAS) using the lower energy, more “green”, because this low-energy sonar for underwater whales, dolphins and other creatures less damage. IF relative to the existing active sonar, CAS sonar background noise from the ocean more easily distinguish the submarine and other “unnatural” objects of action.

Xinhua Military: United States person, “in anti-submarine warfare, this is a game-changing technology, is a leap, so that we can effectively locate and track the opponent.” Mean that the United States anti-submarine warfare started paying attention to it?

Weidong: in fact, has not stopped the U.S. Navy’s concern for anti-submarine warfare. The sonar equipment on their ships are the most advanced. U.S. Navy, “Los Angeles” class submarine is equipped on the thin line towed array sonar TB-23/BQ system. The sonar is essentially a long-term connection with the hydrophone and vibration isolation device that can detect and track very low frequency sounds, while the ordinary hull sonar can not do. Probe with the array of conventional submarines and nuclear submarines are very effective. TB-23 towed array sonar retractable through the winch, when not, to close the submarine’s ballast tanks, laying to the rear of the submarine, a length of about 2570 meters.

the new Navy attack submarines, “Virginia” class equipment is lightweight large aperture array (LWWAA) fiber-optic acoustic sensor system, light system is a large aperture array installed on both sides of the huge submarine base array It provides for the submarine combat systems major sonar sensor input. Lightweight large aperture array, replacing the traditional piezoelectric ceramic hydrophone, which uses fiber-optic and laser technology to a target submarine in the water the sound energy into information, so that the “Virginia” class submarines to identify and track targets.

Xinhua military: it is used sonar to detect submarines?

Weidong: not only for anti-submarine sonar in the Navy, but also for “mine-hunting.” For example, British naval vessels on the 2193 model equipped with sonar, a high-resolution broadband “mine-hunting” Sonar, because the use of QinetiQ’s research and development of a novel composite material, the sonar can detect not only the ordinary mines, but also detect hidden mines. As the mines and underwater rocks can be identified, so the broadband sonar echo signals constitute a significant increase in the distance on the type of sonar target classification capability.

also developing the U.S. Navy mine warfare sonar, such as the current use of the AQS-20A sonar system, which is by five sonar sensors integrated in a 21-inch diameter shell, which can provide mine detection system than the average three times higher than the area search rate. Sink to the bottom of the mine sonar system to identify, detect, locate and distinguish the sink to the bottom mine, mine, and a short suspension cable anchor mine.

Xinhua military: According to reports, the United States that due to “advances in electronics and computers, the feasibility of continuous active sonar technology is no longer a problem.” You see how the prospect of it?

Weidong: R & D through the use of military sonar, we see the development of modern weapons and equipment characteristics: First, the progressive, modern weapons and equipment research and production process of gradually reducing , a new equipment come out soon, and soon there will be a product upgrade. Second, the adversarial nature of weapons and equipment more and more prominent, and the continuous development of equipment in the confrontation. Such as traditional sonar transmit pulse to the water, because it is kind of non-continuous process, often leads to the gap between pulses to detect than the target. So on the continuous development of active sonar. When you study the continuous active sonar when the opponent is also studying how to release interference signals and other measures. Therefore, not unilaterally enacted by the rules of the game is drawn against the sides. Third, enhance comprehensive technology, the mutual penetration of different technologies more widely. As you mentioned above, “As advances in electronics and computers, the feasibility of continuous active sonar technology is no longer a problem.” Continuous active sonar because the acoustic signal processing technology for high capacity requirements. A new equipment into the multi-field technology, the system will be in future warfare against the even more prominent.