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their mission is to destroy the high value asset," said James Pollock, Director of Homeland Defense Programs, NUWC Newport. "The underwater sensors are typically active sonar devices that put acoustic energy out into the water. That energy is reflected back off of all the surfaces that are out there. We then process the information and take action." That action may range from a basic voice alert to a blast from an underwater air gun that produces 2,100 pounds per square inch of pressure and forces divers to the surface. "It gives the diver a good thump," said Pollock. As a result of its relative mobility, the system is being tested for use by expeditionary forces. Sailors from the Mobile
Inshore Undersea Warfare (MIUW) Unit 202, based in Newport, assisted with the demonstration by operating the consoles and providing feedback on the system's ergonomics. "It gives us more tools for the toolbox," said Cmdr. Scott Burleson, commanding officer, MIUW Unit 202. "We go out with different systems and different sensors and anytime we get something new from a technology perspective, it's going to help us." As the technical agent responsible for supporting the Navy's Anti-Terrorism Afloat Program Office to acquire an Expeditionary Integrated Swimmer Defense System, NUWC Division Newport has been working on the system for more than a year, Pollock said. Prototypes could be used in the fleet within the next two years.
No Clowning? So far this year, the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute has artificially produced nearly 4,000 clown anemone fish (Amphiprion percula). Some 3,000 fishes have been released into the sea and the rest exported to France. In 2002, scientists at the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute began to artificially produce this species of fish without the presence of seaanemones. The survival rate of onemonth-old fishes is quite high, from 40.59% to 85.42%. However, the institute currently produces Amphiprion frenatus Brevoort only. (Source: http://english.vietnamnet.vn) 10 MTR
Underwater Surveillance and Protection
Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace (KDA) signed a contract with the Norwegian Ministry of Defence (MoD) for Underwater Surveillance and Protection. Kongsberg by KDA will carry out the three-year project in cooperation with Kongsberg Maritime (KM) and Norwegian Defense Research Establishment (FFI), and assisted by the Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN). The first version of the integrated surveillance and protection system has already been installed at Haakonsvern, the main base of the RNoN. The background for the project is the general need for protection of Norwegian installations in Norway, and protection of Norwegian forces in international operations. The modular and flexible systems solutions being developed, are based on Norwegian technologies and can be used at fixed installations, like Haakonsvern, or as mobile systems used by forces in unknown
waters. Core technology has been developed by KDA through the work related to the underwater systems now in operation on board the new "Fridtjof Nansen" class frigates in Norway.
For additional information, Email eric.levitt@kongsberg.com
October 2007
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