British class Astute submarines
The naval forces of Great Britain have an atomic assault submarine capable of replacing several types of Swiftsure class submarines, which were produced in the middle of the 70-s and managed to develop a service life. The new submarine belongs to the class Astute.
The British Ministry of Defense planned to acquire three new submarines, but later it was decided to place an order for Astute-class 6 submarines right away. Without exception, the characteristics of a new class submarine surpass those of the Trafalgar class submarines. At the same time in London decided that a new thunderstorm of sea depths and surface targets will be placed on the base of Faslane, which is located in Scotland.
Astute-class submarines are manufactured in general partnership with BAE Systems Corporation. At the same time, the corporation itself has already managed to participate in the design and manufacture of submarines at the shipyard at its disposal. The Astute series has already received a list of names. In addition to S119 (Astyut), there are S120 (Ambush) and S121 - Artful. The British call these submarines the AAA-triad, capable of crushing any enemy. These submarines were introduced into the armament of the British Navy in stages over 3 years: from 2009 to 2011. In 2007, another contract was signed in London with BAE Systems, which was aimed at manufacturing the submarine S122. This is the Audacious submarine - the so-called fourth “A” of the British underwater fleet. Its launching is scheduled for 2013.
The command of the British Navy reports that by the year 2022, the last submarine of the Trafalgar class will be written off as having faithfully served its time. The cancellation of submarines of this type has been going on for 3's years.
Let us proceed to the direct consideration of the functional base of Astyut class submarines.
If we talk about the control of submarines, then it is based on ACMS, equipped with the Sustem Indyte module from the BAE corporation. In addition, the advanced SMCS command system is used, which was used in other classes of British Navy submarines. Here, data is received directly from sonars using innovative algorithms for processing information flows. All these streams are analyzed online and displayed on special control panels. The contract for the development of software for control systems was signed 10 years ago. The work was done by programmers from several companies. At the same time, work on the missile launch system and other weapons systems was carried out by Strachan & Henshaw. In 2008, a contract was signed with NGSM, which implemented platform control systems designed for the S122 submarine.
We now turn to the consideration of missile weapons. As expected, all Astute class submarines received or will receive Tomahawk tactical missiles. Shooting will be carried out by cruise missiles from torpedo compartments.
The Tomahawk class missiles have a special system of horizontal navigation combining radar measurements obtained with an altimeter and map data on the landscape. It turns out that the rocket has a serious electronic filling, which has already passed the test in the conditions of the Libyan conflict. In addition, there is a correlation segment on the rocket, which increases the accuracy of shooting at specified targets. The third control unit of the rocket is a propulsive installation, coordinated with the global positioning system. This integration of the functionality allows you to track speed data for military service operators.
These missiles are capable of hitting targets at a distance of 1600 km.
There is a fourth block that provides signal exchange via satellite. This allows the operator to adjust the rocket flight even when it is already in flight. Such a system had the place to be on the Trafalgar class submarines.
By the way, Astyuta's torpedoes did not say goodbye either. The classic of the genre is presented in the form of Spearfish torpedoes, as well as a mine arsenal. BAE Systems Corporation was also noted here: it was its experts who made the design of torpedoes for Astute. The torpedo has a special warhead directional flow of energy.
Electronic suppression in new submarines uses a system of false targets, as well as radio intelligence components. These include a set of PC sensors (sighting systems) with multifunctional antenna sets.
The new electronic support system in a special wavelength range is used in a slightly modernized form compared to the Trafalgar class.
Astute class submarines are also equipped with a new electronic support system. This system was created by the British company DML in close cooperation with American partners from Argon ST. Having passed tests in 2007, the system proved to be reliable when intercepting signals, direction finding, reconnaissance, as well as “tapping” the negotiations of enemy ships. Now the system is launched for full-scale use on Astyut class submarines.
Navigation of the submarines of the type described is carried out at the expense of the radar system. Radio interception and signal jamming counteraction are combined into a single complex, connected, in addition, with active-passive search. 2076 th sonar in its current form entered service in 2003 year.
With the help of a high-precision echo sounder, Astyut provides the formation of a hydrographic atlas in the area where the submarine is located. This echo sounder is labeled DESO 25. Even the 10-kilometer depth is not able to hide the enemy from this echo sounder. In other words, the only place in the world’s ocean where you can hide from the Astyu echo sounder is the Mariana Trench ... The submarines also use thermal imaging systems to monitor the state of the water around the boat.
And in conclusion it is worth touching the engine of a boat of such class as Astute. The nuclear reactor was created by Rolls-Royce. The company took care that the core of the reactor does not require the replacement of fuel cells during the entire service life of the A-submarines. In addition to a nuclear reactor, a pair of diesel generators that produce alternating current are also used. In addition to this, the British decided to add a spare engine, as they say, just in case of fire. All these power units will allow A-submarines to 40 times to go around the Earth!
The British Ministry of Defense planned to acquire three new submarines, but later it was decided to place an order for Astute-class 6 submarines right away. Without exception, the characteristics of a new class submarine surpass those of the Trafalgar class submarines. At the same time in London decided that a new thunderstorm of sea depths and surface targets will be placed on the base of Faslane, which is located in Scotland.
Astute-class submarines are manufactured in general partnership with BAE Systems Corporation. At the same time, the corporation itself has already managed to participate in the design and manufacture of submarines at the shipyard at its disposal. The Astute series has already received a list of names. In addition to S119 (Astyut), there are S120 (Ambush) and S121 - Artful. The British call these submarines the AAA-triad, capable of crushing any enemy. These submarines were introduced into the armament of the British Navy in stages over 3 years: from 2009 to 2011. In 2007, another contract was signed in London with BAE Systems, which was aimed at manufacturing the submarine S122. This is the Audacious submarine - the so-called fourth “A” of the British underwater fleet. Its launching is scheduled for 2013.
The command of the British Navy reports that by the year 2022, the last submarine of the Trafalgar class will be written off as having faithfully served its time. The cancellation of submarines of this type has been going on for 3's years.
Let us proceed to the direct consideration of the functional base of Astyut class submarines.
If we talk about the control of submarines, then it is based on ACMS, equipped with the Sustem Indyte module from the BAE corporation. In addition, the advanced SMCS command system is used, which was used in other classes of British Navy submarines. Here, data is received directly from sonars using innovative algorithms for processing information flows. All these streams are analyzed online and displayed on special control panels. The contract for the development of software for control systems was signed 10 years ago. The work was done by programmers from several companies. At the same time, work on the missile launch system and other weapons systems was carried out by Strachan & Henshaw. In 2008, a contract was signed with NGSM, which implemented platform control systems designed for the S122 submarine.
We now turn to the consideration of missile weapons. As expected, all Astute class submarines received or will receive Tomahawk tactical missiles. Shooting will be carried out by cruise missiles from torpedo compartments.
The Tomahawk class missiles have a special system of horizontal navigation combining radar measurements obtained with an altimeter and map data on the landscape. It turns out that the rocket has a serious electronic filling, which has already passed the test in the conditions of the Libyan conflict. In addition, there is a correlation segment on the rocket, which increases the accuracy of shooting at specified targets. The third control unit of the rocket is a propulsive installation, coordinated with the global positioning system. This integration of the functionality allows you to track speed data for military service operators.
These missiles are capable of hitting targets at a distance of 1600 km.
There is a fourth block that provides signal exchange via satellite. This allows the operator to adjust the rocket flight even when it is already in flight. Such a system had the place to be on the Trafalgar class submarines.
By the way, Astyuta's torpedoes did not say goodbye either. The classic of the genre is presented in the form of Spearfish torpedoes, as well as a mine arsenal. BAE Systems Corporation was also noted here: it was its experts who made the design of torpedoes for Astute. The torpedo has a special warhead directional flow of energy.
Electronic suppression in new submarines uses a system of false targets, as well as radio intelligence components. These include a set of PC sensors (sighting systems) with multifunctional antenna sets.
The new electronic support system in a special wavelength range is used in a slightly modernized form compared to the Trafalgar class.
Astute class submarines are also equipped with a new electronic support system. This system was created by the British company DML in close cooperation with American partners from Argon ST. Having passed tests in 2007, the system proved to be reliable when intercepting signals, direction finding, reconnaissance, as well as “tapping” the negotiations of enemy ships. Now the system is launched for full-scale use on Astyut class submarines.
Navigation of the submarines of the type described is carried out at the expense of the radar system. Radio interception and signal jamming counteraction are combined into a single complex, connected, in addition, with active-passive search. 2076 th sonar in its current form entered service in 2003 year.
With the help of a high-precision echo sounder, Astyut provides the formation of a hydrographic atlas in the area where the submarine is located. This echo sounder is labeled DESO 25. Even the 10-kilometer depth is not able to hide the enemy from this echo sounder. In other words, the only place in the world’s ocean where you can hide from the Astyu echo sounder is the Mariana Trench ... The submarines also use thermal imaging systems to monitor the state of the water around the boat.
And in conclusion it is worth touching the engine of a boat of such class as Astute. The nuclear reactor was created by Rolls-Royce. The company took care that the core of the reactor does not require the replacement of fuel cells during the entire service life of the A-submarines. In addition to a nuclear reactor, a pair of diesel generators that produce alternating current are also used. In addition to this, the British decided to add a spare engine, as they say, just in case of fire. All these power units will allow A-submarines to 40 times to go around the Earth!
Information