Conventional minesweepers are exposed to significant risks when they pass over mines. Karlskronavarvet's self-propelled acoustic/magnetic minesweep SAM solves the problem of exposing personnel and ships to such risks. SAM minesweeping drones were used successfully by the US Navy during Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait.
| The most basic C2 system for mobile applications may consist of a single laptop computer |
The SAM is a remotely operated drone that is equipped with a programmable 3D magnetic field and a programmable acoustic transmitter. Because of these elements the SAM is effective against magnetic and acoustic mines. SAMs can simulate different ships travelling at different speeds and the remote control unit can be placed anywhere on board a ship or ashore in a van or a container.
| Any ship can control one or more SAMs |
A SAM may be used for precursor sweeping in a traditional MCM operation and it can execute a minesweeping mission single-handedly. Lead-through operations are very effective in reducing the risk for passing ships and the SAM can be controlled by the ship it is protecting.
By changing the magnetic and acoustic sweep signature, operators can utilise the intelligence of a SAM to discover whether mines are triggered or not. The SAM is 18m long, 6.1m wide and fully equipped weighs 25 tonnes. The two pontoons that contain magnetic coils are built in GRP sandwich material and the hull and superstructure are constructed from salt-water-resistant aluminium. The propulsion system comprises a diesel engine and a shottel propeller that provides a SAM with a maximum speed of eight knots and good manoeuvrability.
| A shore-based system supports operators in their decision-making process during all phases of MCM operations |
The complex situation in which mine threats occur generate volumes of information that may be relevant to other mine warfare situations. After analysis most information is deleted, but as it may be of tactical or technical interest to others it should be made available.
| Self-propelled acoustic/magnetic minesweep type SAM |
The processed data is required for risk calculations used in the overall operational scenario and for assessing different MCM assets.
Data will be exchanged between different units at sea and ashore during all phases of an operation including planning, execution and post-mission analysis. To maintain efficiency it is essential that information-exchange is secure, so that all available information is taken into consideration before making tactical decisions.
CelsiusTech's command and control systems cover all aspects of information handling and form part of MCM functions ashore and onboard. CelsiusTech has sold its most advanced system to the Royal Australian Navy for its mine warfare system centre project that handles all aspects of mine warfare including training and technical support.
CelsiusTech also has sold the MYSKO system to the Royal Swedish Navy. This can be used as a stand-alone system or integrated in a LAN (local area network). The purpose of the system is to support planning, assessment and analysis of mine warfare operations with the objective of enabling optimum utilisation of MCM forces. This system is based on hardware and software that is commercially available. CelsiusTech has designed the application software to support operators in decision-making processes during planning and execution phases. Good information flow between an asset at sea and the tasking function ashore is one of the keys to an efficient MCM system.
