Diver Detection Sonar

Last updated

Diver Detection Sonar (DDS) systems are sonar and acoustic location systems employed underwater for the detection of divers and submerged swimmer delivery vehicles (SDVs). The purpose of this type of sonar system is to provide detection, tracking and classification information on underwater threats that could endanger property and lives. Further, this information is useful only to the extent that it is made available to authorities in time to make possible the desired response to the threat, be it deterrent or defensive action. Subsurface threats are a difficult problem, because reliable detection is available to date chiefly by use of high-resolution active sonar or trained dolphins or sea lions. [1] The threat of an underwater terrorist attack is a concern to the maritime industry and port law enforcement agencies. Ports face a range of threats from swimmers, boat-delivered ordnance such as limpet mines and other forms of improvised underwater explosive devices. [2] DDS systems have been developed to provide underwater security for ports, coastal facilities, offshore installations, pipelines and ships. Due to the variety of life and objects that exist under the water, it is desirable that a DDS system be capable of distinguishing between large sea mammals, shoals of fish; a ship's wake; a diver with an open circuit scuba set and a stealth diver with a rebreather. DDS systems have been developed that can be mounted on the seabed, on a pier or on the hull of a vessel. For complete port security these systems are integrated with the surface surveillance and security systems employed at ports, coastal facilities and offshore installations. Various systems provide specialized features to facilitate their use in port security systems including automatic detection features.

Sonar technique that uses sound propagation

Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect objects on or under the surface of the water, such as other vessels. Two types of technology share the name "sonar": passive sonar is essentially listening for the sound made by vessels; active sonar is emitting pulses of sounds and listening for echoes. Sonar may be used as a means of acoustic location and of measurement of the echo characteristics of "targets" in the water. Acoustic location in air was used before the introduction of radar. Sonar may also be used in air for robot navigation, and SODAR is used for atmospheric investigations. The term sonar is also used for the equipment used to generate and receive the sound. The acoustic frequencies used in sonar systems vary from very low (infrasonic) to extremely high (ultrasonic). The study of underwater sound is known as underwater acoustics or hydroacoustics.

Acoustic location the general use of sound to locate objects

Acoustic location is the use of sound to determine the distance and direction of its source or reflector. Location can be done actively or passively, and can take place in gases, liquids, and in solids.

Diver propulsion vehicle Powered device for diver mobility and range extension

A diver propulsion vehicle (DPV), also known as an underwater propulsion vehicle or underwater scooter, or swimmer delivery vehicle (SDV) by armed forces, is an item of diving equipment used by scuba divers to increase range underwater. Range is restricted by the amount of breathing gas that can be carried, the rate at which that breathing gas is consumed, and the battery power of the DPV. Time limits imposed on the diver by decompression requirements may also limit safe range in practice. DPVs have recreational, scientific and military applications.

Contents

Evaluation of DDS systems

In 2006, in a NATO report given by Dr. R. T. Kessel and R. D. Hollet at the NATO Undersea Research Center, it was stated that sonar gives by far the lowest cost per square meter of underwater coverage of all other means of surveillance (radar, video, visual). This is because sound waves have a low attenuation and long propagation distance in turbid harbor waters relative to other means of sensing (electromagnetic waves, visual light, temperature, magnetism). The leading sonar technology for detecting and tracking underwater intruders is active, monostatic sonar, using principles of conventional beam forming in its signal processing. These sonars are now available from a number of different manufacturers who recommend their use for surveillance against underwater intruders, whereas, other sonar technologies, such as active multi-static or passive sonar, possibly with model-based signal processing, remain at best in the development stage so far as intruder detection is concerned. [3]

In physics, attenuation or, in some contexts, extinction is the gradual loss of flux intensity through a medium. For instance, dark glasses attenuate sunlight, lead attenuates X-rays, and water and air attenuate both light and sound at variable attenuation rates.

Wave propagation is any of the ways in which waves travel.

Electromagnetic radiation form of energy emitted and absorbed by charged particles, which exhibits wave-like behavior as it travels through space

In physics, electromagnetic radiation refers to the waves of the electromagnetic field, propagating (radiating) through space, carrying electromagnetic radiant energy. It includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, (visible) light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.

Mature Diver Detection Sonar technology

In the above-mentioned study, conducted with the Italian Navy, it was found that diver or intruder detection sonar technology is mature inasmuch as:

  1. It has demonstrated 360 degree coverage with detection ranges of 300 to 800 m against intruders wearing open-circuit breathing equipment. The coverage is significant relative to the area of open water and to the possible entry points for intruders in many harbours.
  2. Reduced detection range and track fragmentation, when it occurred, could be accounted for by environmental (sound propagation) conditions at the time (see below).
  3. Random false alarms are rare (when the auto-detection is properly adjusted), and they are recognizably false because they are of short duration and do not follow a track.
  4. Non-random false alarms caused by genuine underwater contacts that happened not to be intruders—by large fish, or schools of fish, or marine mammals, for instance—can usually be recognized by an experienced operator from the contact's behaviour, especially the evolution of their track, so these false alarms are unlikely to be troublesome in practice. They furthermore provide feedback about the functioning of the sonar and domain awareness.
  5. The automatic algorithms are capable of detecting and tracking many contacts simultaneously. Were the Diver Detection sonar systems to rely strictly on the echograph generated by the sonar units overlaid on a navigation chart, then a diver or SDV would appear as a relatively small moving shape that is refreshed with each transmission or ping of the sonar against a fluctuating background of sound clutter and reverberation. The operator would have to recognize the shape and judge if it represents a threat calling for further action or not. This is problematic in that they would have to be highly trained sonar operators. For this reason, commercial DDS systems use automation to simplify the sonar display by suppressing the echograph and displaying only the chart and detection and tracking information.

Commercial use

In 2008, the Port of Gdańsk purchased the first DDS system to be installed in a commercial oil terminal. [4]

Port of Gdańsk port

The Port of Gdańsk is a seaport located on the southern coast of Gdańsk Bay in the city of Gdańsk, extending along the Vistula estuary Martwa Wisła, Port Channel and Kashubia Canal. It is one of the largest seaports on the Baltic Sea.

In December, 2008, DDS system sold to an undisclosed EMEA government. The system will be installed in an area with critical infrastructure, including a port and energy production facilities. [5]

March 4, 2009, a $1.7M order for an underwater security system, to be used by a large energy facility at an undisclosed location in Asia, to guard and protect the customer infrastructure from underwater intrusion and sabotage. [6]

March 12, 2009, sale of multiple DDS sensors, which will protect a strategic site against underwater intrusion. [7]

May 25, 2009, US Navy orders additional sonar systems. [8]

December 2011, Asian customer places the world's largest order for underwater security systems protection of oil platforms. [9]

March 2012, Undisclosed navy places repeat order for multiple DDS systems. [10]

May 2012, multiple sales of diver/intruder detection sonars for undisclosed middle eastern facilities. [11]

August 2012, Ministry of Defense of one of the world's largest armies orders a portable diver detection sonar. [12]

November 9, 2012, a large defense integrator places an order for six portable diver detection sonar for vessel protection.

June 2016, armed forces of Kazakhstan order several diver detection sonar for the second time. [13]

January 8, 2018, Indian Navy ordered 78 PointShield™ Portable Diver Detection Sonar (PDDS) units. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

An intrusion detection system (IDS) is a device or software application that monitors a network or systems for malicious activity or policy violations. Any malicious activity or violation is typically reported either to an administrator or collected centrally using a security information and event management (SIEM) system. A SIEM system combines outputs from multiple sources, and uses alarm filtering techniques to distinguish malicious activity from false alarms.

Frogman Tactical scuba divers

A frogman is someone who is trained in scuba diving or swimming underwater in a tactical capacity that includes police or military work. Such personnel are also known by the more formal names of combat diver, combatant diver, or combat swimmer. The word frogman first arose in the stage name The Fearless Frogman of Paul Boyton in the 1870s and later was claimed by John Spence, an enlisted member of the U.S. Navy, to have been applied to him while he was training in a green waterproof suit.

SEAL Delivery Vehicle Manned wet submersible for deploying Navy SEALS

The SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) is a manned submersible and a type of swimmer delivery vehicle used to deliver United States Navy SEALs and their equipment for special operations missions. It is also operated by the Royal Navy's Special Boat Service, which operates 3 SDV's.

Security alarm

A security alarm is a system designed to detect intrusion – unauthorized entry – into a building or other area. Security alarms are used in residential, commercial, industrial, and military properties for protection against burglary (theft) or property damage, as well as personal protection against intruders. Security alarms in residential areas show a correlation with decreased theft. Car alarms likewise help protect vehicles and their contents. Prisons also use security systems for control of inmates.

The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program (NMMP) is a program administered by the U.S. Navy which studies the military use of marine mammals - principally bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions - and trains animals to perform tasks such as ship and harbor protection, mine detection and clearance, and equipment recovery. The program is based in San Diego, California, where animals are housed and trained on an ongoing basis. NMMP animal teams have been deployed for use in combat zones, such as during the Vietnam War and the Iraq War.

Anti-frogman techniques are security methods developed to protect watercraft, ports and installations, and other sensitive resources both in or nearby vulnerable waterways from potential threats or intrusions by frogmen or other divers.

Kongsberg Mesotech Ltd, based in Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada, is informally operated by Kongsberg Gruppen. Website Proff.no does not include the company on the lists of subsidiaries of Kongsberg Gruppen or Kongsberg Maritime.

Underwater Port Security System (UPSS) was developed for the United States Coast Guard and the Maritime Safety and Security Teams (MSSTs) as an anti-frogman technique. It includes the Underwater Inspection System (UIS) and the Integrated Anti-Swimmer System (IAS). Recent developments in terrorism have highlighted the need for underwater anti-frogman security. The UPSS is made in the United States and is reported to be compact enough fit in a large suitcase.

USCGC <i>Bertholf</i>

USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750) is the first Legend class maritime security cutter of the United States Coast Guard. She is named for Commodore Ellsworth P. Bertholf, fourth Commandant of both the Revenue Cutter Service and Coast Guard.

The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is the naval branch of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the armed forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLAN force consists of approximately 250,000 men and over a hundred major combat vessels, organized into three fleets: the North Sea Fleet, the East Sea Fleet, and the South Sea Fleet.

The AN/WQX-2 is a diver-detector sonar used in anti-frogman precautions. It is in service with the US Navy. It uses Kongsberg Mesotech components. It can detect divers up to 2400 feet away.

Cerberus (sonar)

Cerberus is an ultrasound Diver Detection Sonar to detect submerged divers. Mod 1 was made by Qinetiq, in their underwater business division. It was unveiled at UDT 2003. The underwater division was sold to ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK in 2009 and the Mod 2 version was developed by them. It is semi-intelligent and reportedly can detect an air-filled chest cavity underwater and let its operator tell whether the echo is from a man or something irrelevant such as a seal or dolphin, and to distinguish between: a shoal of fish; a ship's wake; a diver with an open-circuit scuba set; a stealth diver with a rebreather; flotsam and jetsam.

Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System

The AN/UQQ-2 Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS), colloquially referred to as the ship's "Tail", is a towed array sonar system of the United States Navy.

Sonar technician

Sonar technician is a United States Navy occupational rating.

Geophysical MASINT is a branch of Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT) that involves phenomena transmitted through the earth and manmade structures including emitted or reflected sounds, pressure waves, vibrations, and magnetic field or ionosphere disturbances.

Underwater searches are procedures to find a known or suspected target object or objects in a specified search area under water. They may be carried out underwater by divers, manned submersibles, remotely operated underwater vehicles, or autonomous underwater vehicles, or from the surface by other agents, including surface vessels, aircraft and cadaver dogs.

Army engineer diver Members of national armies who are trained to undertake reconnaissance, demolition, and salvage tasks underwater

Army Engineer Divers are members of national armies who are trained to undertake reconnaissance, demolition, and salvage tasks underwater. These divers have similar skills and qualifications as professional divers. In the United States Army they are members of the Corps of Engineers. In the British Army they may be Royal Engineers Divers or Commando Engineer Divers.

Shallow Water Combat Submersible A manned submersible and a type of swimmer delivery vehicle

The Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS) is a manned submersible and a type of swimmer delivery vehicle that is planned to be used to deliver United States Navy SEALs and their equipment for special operations missions. It will replace the current Mark 8 SEAL Delivery Vehicle. The Navy planned to introduce the SWCS in 2018, although "slippage in the development" has delayed its introduction until 2019. As of October 2018, two subs have been delivered to the Navy while another two were in production. The SWCS will serve alongside the Dry Combat Submersible (DCS), a midget submarine with a dry interior being developed by Lockheed Martin as a replacement for the cancelled Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS).

References

  1. ↑ TECHNICAL DOCUMENT 3138 May 2002, Non-Lethal Swimmer Neutralization Study Archived 27 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine .. Applied Research Laboratories, The University of Texas at Austin.
  2. ↑ day 1/underwater%20terrorism prevention plan/underwater-terrorism-prevention-plan-flyer.doc Underwater Terrorism Prevention Plan Informational Bulletin [ permanent dead link ]
  3. ↑ Underwater Intruder Detection Sonar for Harbour Protection: State of the Art Review and Implications. Ronald T. Kessel, Reginald D. Hollett, October 2006
  4. ↑ "dsIT to Supply First Underwater Surveillance System To Protect Oil Platform". www.energy-daily.com.
  5. ↑ "DSIT Solutions Sells Underwater Site Security System".
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-01-02. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
  7. ↑ "Additional Order for DSIT's AquaShield(TM) Underwater Security System - FinancialContent Business Page". finance.dailyherald.com.
  8. ↑ "US Navy orders additional Sonardyne Sentinel sonar system - ROVworld Subsea Information". www.rovworld.com. 2009-05-25.
  9. ↑ "Asian customer places $12.3 million order for underwater surveillance gear - Government Security News". www.gsnmagazine.com.
  10. ↑ "DSIT, An Acorn Energy Company, Receives another Round of Orders from an Undisclosed Navy for its AquaShield™ Underwater Security Systems". Archived from the original on 2013-07-07.
  11. ↑ "Sonardyne sonar to protect high-security Saudi energy facility - Government Security News". www.gsnmagazine.com.
  12. ↑ "Adnkronos". www.adnkronos.com.
  13. ↑ "SAES and Kazakhstani GIDROPRIBOR Signs MoU for Underwater Systems for Kazakh Armed Forces - Naval Technology" (Press Release). SAES. 7 June 2016.
  14. ↑ "DSIT Receives an Order for 78 PointShield™ Portable Diver Detection Sonars". Cision PR Newswire. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.