Underwater tracking system for SeaFox
A contract for the supply of underwater tracking systems to be used by the US Navy in mine clearance operations has been awarded to Applied Acoustic Engineering Ltd of Great Yarmouth UK, by ATLAS North America.
The Applied Acoustics’ military grade Easytrak USBL tracking system will be integrated into the SeaFox mine neutralisation system supplied by ATLAS NA under contract to Lockheed Martin Corporation. The SeaFox system addresses an urgent operational need from U.S. Navy Central Command for more effective mine countermeasure systems to be installed on its Avengerclass ships and MH-53 Sea Dragon helicopters.
Seafox is an expendable, remotely operated underwater vehicle containing an explosive warhead used to neutralise the target mine. The Seafox vehicle is guided to the target from the parent ship or helicopter using a combination of Applied Acoustics’ Easytrak and the vehicle’s own onboard sonar. Easytrak utilises a multi-element, single transducer to send and receive acoustic signals underwater from which range, bearing and depth information can be determined.
