TRAPS and HELRAS Will Enhance ASW Capabilities

Elbit Systems has received contracts, valued at $56 million (€47.5 million) from the navy of an Asian-Pacific nation, for the provision of ASW capabilities.

To be conducted over a 12-month period, the contracts call for the company to provide its SEAGULL unmanned surface vessels (USV), configured for the ASW role and equipped with the Towed Reelable Active Passive Sonar (TRAPS) system.

The USVs will also integrate the Helicopter/Ship Long-Range Active Sonars (HELRAS) and Elbit Systems’ autonomy suite, combat management system and satcom capability. The TRAPS systems, which will also be installed onboard the customer’s corvettes, are low frequency variable-depth-sonar for detection, tracking and classification of submarines, midget submarines, surface vessels and torpedoes.

Oren Sabag, Co-General Manager of Elbit Systems ISTAR & EW, commented, “Advanced autonomous and sonar capabilities are […] key to addressing the expanding challenges in the underwater arena. We believe that our portfolio of proven maritime capabilities is well positioned to support the growing operational requirements of naval forces around the world.”

The SEAGULL USV launching a torpedo.  (Photo: Galina Kantor)