Lightweight influence mine sweeping system for the future Norwegian - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

UDT 2020 Rune Fardal

Lightweight influence mine sweeping system for the future Norwegian unmanned MMCM concept

Introduction

Open Sea Line of Communication (SLOC) and protection of harbors are essential for most civilian and military activities

• Sea mines are definitive sea denial weapons
• Suspicion of a mine threat will effectively stop all traffic
• Naval operations will stop until area is cleared
• Sea mines are efficient

– Cheap, effective and hard to counter

Norway has a long coastline (approx. 1650 miles) and must:

• secure SLOC
• protect naval assets from mine threat
• prepare for allied support
• Rough bathymetry, high clutter density,

deep and shallow water calls for mine sweeping capability

The Importance of Maritime MCM

• Norwegian Navy MCM capability:

– Mine diver command – 2 Oksøy-class mine hunting vessels – 2 Alta-class mine sweeping vessels

• Building period 1990-1995

– Originally 4 hunt and 5 sweep

• Expected life time

– 25 years – MoD has started the procurement programme P6359 «Future maritime mine countermeasures capability»

Current Norwegian MCM Capability

• In Norwegian waters relevant for

mine clearance operations more than 50% are unsuitable for mine hunting

– A robust mine sweeping capability is needed

• High speed operations may require

mine sweeping

• The influence sweeps are used in:

– Mine Setting Mode (MSM) – Target Simulation Mode (TSM)

Norwegian Need for Mine Sweeping Capability

Seafloor with rough bathymetry (left) and high clutter density (right). Each image is approximately 300m x 300m.

P6359 Future Norwegian MMCM capability

• 2017 – 2019: Conceptual phase.
• 2020 – 2021: Definition phase.
• 2022 – 2028: Project phase. (IOC: 2026, FOC: 2028)

Mine divers Disposal Mine hunt Manned vessel Mine sweep Transit

• Ship signature studies and

mine/ship interaction studies.

– National requirements for sweep sources.

• Investigate technological

maturity of relevant mine sweeping systems

• Develop and adapt technology

for Norwegian needs.

• P&E software for influence

mine sweeping.

R&D areas at FFI for future USV based mine sweeps

Collaborative development

RNoN / NDMA FFI

KONGSBERG

Commercial delivery Support Collaborative development

HUGIN

CONOPS Requirements CD&E

The Norwegian military AUV program, an example of a collaborative development

Single USV with Straight tail cable sweep

• Mine Setting Mode (MSM)

2 USVs with Closed Loop Cable Sweep

• Target Simulation Mode (TSM)

Relevant acoustic lightweight sources

• Thales Australia

– Cable Powered Advanced Acoustic Source (CP-AAG)

• Patria Finland

– AK-20

• FFI will get detailed measurements of

the sources in EDA project MLM-2

Sweeping tests 2018

Buoyancy elements Aft cross cable

KNM Mjølner KNM Sleipner Acoustic source 1 Acoustic source 2

Fwd cross cable

• 2 USVs
• Launched from land
• Towed at 8 kts

Sweeping tests 2019

• The complete electromagnetic

and acoustic sweep can be launched from land or ship.

– “Clip-on” solution where the sweep is attached to the USV(s) and towed into the area of

• peration.
• Similar procedures for LARS of

straight tail and closed loop configuration

– Closed loop is more complex making the launch and recovery phases more advanced and time consuming

Launch and recovery

Conclusions and summary