Exhibitors from around the world have gathered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to showcase the innovative undersea technologies that will support maritime operations in the underwater domain over the coming decade. The second day of the exhibition began with a visit from Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Sweden, who was welcomed to the Saab stand for a briefing on next-generation submarine capabilities.
The conference got underway with the Host Nation Keynote Panel with Eric Toebast, Captain NL MCM Service, Royal Netherlands Navy; Leendert Dorst, Deputy Hydrographer, Royal Netherlands Navy; Sander Kool, Commanding Officer, Defence Diving Group; and Martin Streefland, Lt Commander, DHC/7SQN of the Royal Netherlands Navy discussing ‘the Challenges in the Underwater Space’.
On the show floor, military diving was in the spotlight with a number of exhibitors. Avon Protection is supporting requirements to expand military diver operational envelopes with its MCM100 Multi-Role Rebreather; and Northern Diver is showcasing its complete diver navigation system which combines Dive Thruster wearable personal propulsion system with NimrodV2 navigation system. On the JFD stand the company is showcasing Submarine Rescue and Special Operations capabilities including the Shadow Excursion and Shadow Back Mount underwater life support systems; while UWIS has introduced a new underwater tracking, navigation and communication system - UWIS System - for diving and ROV operators and their management.
Remote and uncrewed systems are on display at L3Harris, including the HunterWater organic unmanned vehicle for the detection, classification and neutralization of mines; while Greensea Systems launched a newly incorporated subsidiary, Bayonet Ocean Vehicles, to develop, manufacture and distribute a new line of amphibious crawler robot vehicles. Hydromea launched a new rim-driven thruster, DISKDRIVE 80, designed to deliver up to 60N of thrust for small vehicles where space is limited.
In the communications, navigation and sensing space, Raytheon Anschütz shows its new warship electronic chart display and information system (WECDIS), which provides a multitude of naval features for operation in special missions, including navigational and tactical overlays and waterspace management. Subnero is displaying its Subnero Underwater Network (SUN) which won DisTech Undersea Challenge; while Sercel is showing acoustic positioning and communications solutions and passive monitoring solutions. MIND Technology is displaying a number of sensing solutions on stand, including the Sea Serpent Passive towed or deployed acoustic surveillance system, and Mako Integrated sonar payload, and sidescan and gapfiller with real-time ATR for small and medium-size AUVs.
Underwater countermeasure solutions are also on display on the RTsys stand, including the company’s MCM ecosystem that comprises the SonaDive hand held sonar for EOD divers and Special Forces, the comet-MCM light AUV for MCM operation up to 300m depth, and the NemoSens Micro AUV for very shallow water applications including beaching operations, harbour survey, and preparation before amphibious operations.
Comments