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A non crossable barrier
by Tomasz Gos
October 21, 2007
A Maritime Technique Center (CTM) has a chance to become a supplier of Polish designed underwater intrusion detection system for NATO strategic harbors. One such barrier protects Gdynia base of Polish Navy and is named "Kryl" (Krill).
The Kryl barrier is a monitoring system of everything that happens underwater in vicinity of Gdynia's military harbor. It detects unauthorized divers, small underwater vehicles, as well as submarines and surface ships. Hydro-acoustic, magnetic and optical sensors are used for the monitoring. The first ones send acoustic signals, which - when reflected from obstacles - are then processed by a computer. In addition all noise emitted by moving objects is also being analyzed. A chain of magnetic transformers, lying at the sea bottom is a magnetic part of the Kryl barrier. All auxiliary optical equipment, such as TV cameras and thermo-vision cameras, belong to optical part of the Kryl barrier.
A magnetic barrier
Last year the Italian Navy carried a special exercise in La Spezia harbor. Their trials were examining detection efficiency of enemy divers' during their normal activities in a military harbor. The exercise has proven that even high quality sonars are not able to detect and trace the divers when there are big acoustical interferences in the water.
However, the magnetic barrier designed by CTM, which was operating in equally difficult conditions, has been able to detect everything that was moving under the surface - sending appropriate information to the console operators. This is because the magnetic barrier responds to every interference of its magnetic field - and this happens every time when anything floats over the magnetic transducers. They warn about the intrusion and about the exact spot where the barrier has been crossed. There are several dozens of such transformers on an arch at the approaches to Gdynia Navy harbor. Each T-shaped transformer is equipped with its own compass - allowing for its precise setup at the sea bottom.
A harbor's sonar
The next element of the Kryl barrier is the active stationary sonar AS2, also designed by CTM. It is not designed for working on open sea but in the approaches to ports and sea bases. The equipment works on any depth above 8 meters. It detects a diver from a distance of 300 meters, and a small submarine vehicle - from 600 m. It is capable of simultaneous tracking of 10 targets and can be serviced by a single operator, provided with two monitors. This sonar has also special noise filters, allowing for detection of more small targets, as well as for improved display. The active stationary sonar has been presented in several countries and on international symposia and conferences, where it has been viewed with great interest.
Poland leads the way to standards
According to CTM specialists, current monitoring underwater systems are not satisfactory. The active sonars, used in shallow approaches to harbors, are easily disturbed and they are not able to cope with objects submerged close to the water surface.
Because of it such monitoring systems should be supported by magnetic barriers, which are not susceptible to the above limitations. NATO has not any underwater uniform monitoring system as yet. The Kryl barrier is one of the best systems of this kind and because of it - it can become a basis for NATO standard.
Maritime Technique Center
Research-Development Center 'Maritime Technique Center' (OBR CTM) has been operating since 1982. It conducts research and implements modern solutions in armed forces of Polish Republic. OBR CTM is a research and development center, under the control of Ministry of Economy. Most of its projects are for Ministry of National Defense and for Polish Navy. The center is very active in the arena of international exchange of science and technology, especially in the area of adaptations of Polish Navy and other Polish armed forces to NATO requirements.
A Norwegian solution
Norwegian company KONGSBERG MARITIME has designed a submarine monitoring system SM 2000. USA bought several such units for its Coast Guard, which have been integrated into so-called Integrated Anti-Swimmer System IAS. One of its elements are so called air-rifles, which force divers to surfacing by sending strong acoustic impulses.
Source: Weekly Polska Zbrojna, NR 43 (561), October 21, 2007, www.zolnierz-polski.pl
Translated by MZ
Oryginally posted by Mishka Zubov
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