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Naval Defense Industry News - France, Russia
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ECA Group Delivers Second USV Inspection System to Russia for Project 12700 MCM Vessel
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ECA Group announces the delivery of the second underwater inspection system to the Sredne-Nevski Shipyard (SNSZ). The system will be integrated on a Project 12700 Alexandrit-class mine countermeasure (MCM) vessel of the Russian Navy.
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 The first Project 12700 MCM vessel "Alexander Obukhov" sailing during sea trials with an Inspector Mk 2 built by the French company. Picture from 06.20.2017 by Gogs / forums.airbase .ru |
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This Unmanned Survey and Identification System is composed of the Multi-Mission Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) INSPECTOR MK2 fitted with Interferometric Side Scan Sonar (ISSS) on its rotary bow mast and on the aft deck the TOWSCA a Towed Side Scan Sonar (TSSS) and its Launch and Recovery System (LARS). The ISSS provides 3D data (imagery and bathymetry) of the seafloor, wreck and obstructions in very shallow water while the TSSS can be used from 10 to 100m with the capability of following the seabed with great accuracy thanks to a bottom tracker follower design coupled with the winch of the LARS.
The two sonars of the USV are capable to transmit their data real time to the control station which will be embarked, according to the type of missions, in a dedicated 20’ container or directly onboard the mother ship. The mother ship as well as the INSPECTOR MK2 are also fitted with the SEASCAN, a dedicated Remotely Operated Vehicle for underwater relocation and identification. Fitted with a scanning sonar and 3 video cameras, this self-powered ROV provides the operator with high resolution images of contacts. Thanks to its optical fiber, this ROV can operate in strong current and in a range of 1500m ahead of the ship which deploys it (USV or mothership). |
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 INSPECTOR MK2 fitted with Interferometric Side Scan Sonar (ISSS) on its rotary bow mast and on the aft deck the TOWSCA a Towed Side Scan Sonar (TSSS) and its Launch and Recovery System (LARS). Picture: ECA Group |
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The integration of the first system delivered end of 2016 is on-going. Preliminary sea trials which took place mid June 2017, have shown the wide potentialities of the USV and its payloads to achieve the performances of the ship.
With the fruitful collaboration of its local partner, the shipyard team, the crew and other specialized companies, ECA Group’s Command Control (C2) as well as the data processing software solutions Triton are under integration on board the first ship. This integration should be completed in the next few weeks. |
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 The first Project 12700 Alexandrit-class MCM vessel. Picture: Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard |
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The Project 12700 Alexandrit-class MCM vessels have been designed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau (a subsidiary of the United Shipbuilding Corporation). They can use the newest sonar stations mounted on the vessel or TV-controlled/autonomous underwater vehicles and are fitted with an automated MCM control system. The vessels can also use traditional minesweeping gear. The Project 12700 MCM vessels feature the world`s biggest unique monolithic fiberglass hull formed by vacuum infusion.
According to Russian blog BMPD, the contract for the purchase of four USV Inspector Mk 2 and from ECA group to be fitted aboard project 12700 MCM vessels was concluded by the Russian company Prominvest (part of Rostec State Corporation) in January 2014. Subsequently, the contract was reduced to three Inspector Mk 2 USVs. The first Inspector Mk 2 was delivered to Russia in the fall of 2015. At the end of June 2017, at the International Naval Exhibition IMDS 2017 in St. Petersburg, the ECA Group's commercial director Dominique Mallet said that the company would organize the Russian production of the Inspector Mk 2 USV and Seascan Mk 2 submersible vehicles in the next two years. |
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