General Dynamics Mine Finder
Currently, the United States is deploying a full-scale construction of ships built under the LCS (Littoral Combat Ship) program. Among other types of combat work they will also be charged with the search and destruction of sea mines. According to the results of several studies, experiments and simulations, it was found that the most convenient and effective way to search for mines would be not traditional means, but specialized unmanned submarines.
Last week, at the Sea Air Spase convention, a model of a future mine submarine hunter created by General Dynamics was presented. According to the company, the project called Knifefish (the common name for several species of fish) will reach the testing stage by the end of this year, and the assembly of prototypes of unmanned submarines has already begun. At the moment, the plans of the military command and the developer include equipping each ship of the LCS project with two submarines and a set of controls. The launch of Knifefish in the series is still scheduled for the 2015 year, but no one hides that the timing may change.
Structurally, the Knifefish drone boat is a kind of standard 533-mm torpedo (inch diameter 21). The hull length is approximately 5,8 meters. As can be seen from the available materials, the overall structure of the design of an unmanned boat is generally similar to that of a torpedo — a propeller and rudders at the rear and no protruding parts on the hull. From this we can conclude that the launch of Knifefish will be made from torpedo tubes. However, there is information that General Dynamics is also working on a specialized starting device. If this is true, then this device is likely to be somewhat similar to existing torpedo tubes. In addition, it may be possible to provide for launching into the water using a crane or similar installation.
Once in the water, the Knifefish will be able to move at speeds up to 20-25 nodes for 16 hours. The type of the power plant of an unmanned submarine has not yet been named. However, from the stated duration of the patrol, conclusions can be drawn about the electric power plant. At least, it is hardly possible to inscribe a power plant of another type with a supply of fuel for such a long movement into the lines of a torpedo.
Underwater management drone possible in two modes. In the first, it is directly controlled from the carrier ship. In the second, on the ship, the necessary information is entered into the electronics of the boat and it independently goes to the search area, where it also independently searches for mines. And it is the search system that is the most interesting part of the complex. Knifefish will reportedly use a low frequency echo sounder to search for planted sea mines. Interestingly, the signal is emitted at several frequencies at the same time, so the detection of mines occurs with the same efficiency at all available distances. In combination with the program for identifying the type of mine by the configuration of the reflected sound, this allows not only to find out the location of the mine with sufficient accuracy, but also to determine in advance the best way to neutralize / destroy it.
At the same time, Knifefish is exclusively a means of detection. Unmanned submarine has no means for self-destruction found mines. The reasons for this are simple: the case of the apparatus has insufficient dimensions to accommodate relevant equipment, and the explosion of a mine even at a great distance can damage very expensive equipment. Therefore, passages in the minefield will be made only after the return of the Knifefish to the carrier ship. Probably because of the same considerations at the moment, the project does not provide for the possibility of transmitting a signal about the search to the ship - so that the mine does not work from the radio signal. To deliver the collected information to the ship, the boat is equipped with a memory unit with a capacity of 12 terabytes. Knifefish will record the signal from the echo sounder synchronized with GPS sensor data, which will allow the complex operator to quickly and easily make a full-fledged minefield map from the intelligence data.
In the future, it is possible to equip the drone boat with equipment for real-time data transmission. This should significantly speed up demining work, although it presents a certain risk. At the same time, the customer, represented by the US Navy, is not yet sure which method of information delivery will be most convenient for him. The fact that it is not quite clear what the carrier ship should do while the boat patrols and searches for mines does not add clarity to the prospects of Knifefish. Displacement in order to impede its detection is associated with the risk of being in a water mine. Staying in place, in turn, is not safe due to the possible use of anti-ship weapons by the enemy. In addition, the search for obstacles lasting up to 16 hours, if we add to it the time to process data and create a map, and then to transfer data to minesweepers, results in a very long response time.
At the moment, the project Knifefish is only preparing to go into the testing phase, and in addition, there are a lot of questions about its practical feasibility. At the same time, representatives of the US Navy and the company General Dynamics have now argued that this project is certainly useful. Even if it is not possible to make a full-fledged device for searching sea mines, a whole family of underwater UAVs for various purposes can be created on its base in the future. The main advantage of this platform will be in compatibility with torpedo tubes and, as a result, in the absence of the need to refine the design of the ship carrier. Such "descendants" Knifefish will be able to be based on almost all ships. As for submarines, there are certain doubts: it’s not so difficult to launch an 533-mm boat from a torpedo tube, but how to get it back aboard? Nevertheless, as a mine hunter, Knifefish has a great future, the main thing is to bring the project to mind.
On the materials of the sites:
http://lenta.ru/
http://www.wired.com/
http://www.generaldynamics.com/
Last week, at the Sea Air Spase convention, a model of a future mine submarine hunter created by General Dynamics was presented. According to the company, the project called Knifefish (the common name for several species of fish) will reach the testing stage by the end of this year, and the assembly of prototypes of unmanned submarines has already begun. At the moment, the plans of the military command and the developer include equipping each ship of the LCS project with two submarines and a set of controls. The launch of Knifefish in the series is still scheduled for the 2015 year, but no one hides that the timing may change.
Littoral Combat Ship - American coastal combat ship (littoral combat ship), developed as part of the LCS program
Structurally, the Knifefish drone boat is a kind of standard 533-mm torpedo (inch diameter 21). The hull length is approximately 5,8 meters. As can be seen from the available materials, the overall structure of the design of an unmanned boat is generally similar to that of a torpedo — a propeller and rudders at the rear and no protruding parts on the hull. From this we can conclude that the launch of Knifefish will be made from torpedo tubes. However, there is information that General Dynamics is also working on a specialized starting device. If this is true, then this device is likely to be somewhat similar to existing torpedo tubes. In addition, it may be possible to provide for launching into the water using a crane or similar installation.
Once in the water, the Knifefish will be able to move at speeds up to 20-25 nodes for 16 hours. The type of the power plant of an unmanned submarine has not yet been named. However, from the stated duration of the patrol, conclusions can be drawn about the electric power plant. At least, it is hardly possible to inscribe a power plant of another type with a supply of fuel for such a long movement into the lines of a torpedo.
Underwater management drone possible in two modes. In the first, it is directly controlled from the carrier ship. In the second, on the ship, the necessary information is entered into the electronics of the boat and it independently goes to the search area, where it also independently searches for mines. And it is the search system that is the most interesting part of the complex. Knifefish will reportedly use a low frequency echo sounder to search for planted sea mines. Interestingly, the signal is emitted at several frequencies at the same time, so the detection of mines occurs with the same efficiency at all available distances. In combination with the program for identifying the type of mine by the configuration of the reflected sound, this allows not only to find out the location of the mine with sufficient accuracy, but also to determine in advance the best way to neutralize / destroy it.
At the same time, Knifefish is exclusively a means of detection. Unmanned submarine has no means for self-destruction found mines. The reasons for this are simple: the case of the apparatus has insufficient dimensions to accommodate relevant equipment, and the explosion of a mine even at a great distance can damage very expensive equipment. Therefore, passages in the minefield will be made only after the return of the Knifefish to the carrier ship. Probably because of the same considerations at the moment, the project does not provide for the possibility of transmitting a signal about the search to the ship - so that the mine does not work from the radio signal. To deliver the collected information to the ship, the boat is equipped with a memory unit with a capacity of 12 terabytes. Knifefish will record the signal from the echo sounder synchronized with GPS sensor data, which will allow the complex operator to quickly and easily make a full-fledged minefield map from the intelligence data.In the future, it is possible to equip the drone boat with equipment for real-time data transmission. This should significantly speed up demining work, although it presents a certain risk. At the same time, the customer, represented by the US Navy, is not yet sure which method of information delivery will be most convenient for him. The fact that it is not quite clear what the carrier ship should do while the boat patrols and searches for mines does not add clarity to the prospects of Knifefish. Displacement in order to impede its detection is associated with the risk of being in a water mine. Staying in place, in turn, is not safe due to the possible use of anti-ship weapons by the enemy. In addition, the search for obstacles lasting up to 16 hours, if we add to it the time to process data and create a map, and then to transfer data to minesweepers, results in a very long response time.
At the moment, the project Knifefish is only preparing to go into the testing phase, and in addition, there are a lot of questions about its practical feasibility. At the same time, representatives of the US Navy and the company General Dynamics have now argued that this project is certainly useful. Even if it is not possible to make a full-fledged device for searching sea mines, a whole family of underwater UAVs for various purposes can be created on its base in the future. The main advantage of this platform will be in compatibility with torpedo tubes and, as a result, in the absence of the need to refine the design of the ship carrier. Such "descendants" Knifefish will be able to be based on almost all ships. As for submarines, there are certain doubts: it’s not so difficult to launch an 533-mm boat from a torpedo tube, but how to get it back aboard? Nevertheless, as a mine hunter, Knifefish has a great future, the main thing is to bring the project to mind.
On the materials of the sites:
http://lenta.ru/
http://www.wired.com/
http://www.generaldynamics.com/
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