Advanced Solution Developed by Ultra
Ultra’s Sonar 2150 for the Royal Navy (RN) successfully passed first-of-class acceptance trials with the service in June, the company announced on 30 July.
The trial took place aboard HMS PORTLAND over a period of several days, providing further validation of the new hull-mounted sonar, that aims to provide improved capability and paves the way for further performance proving activities later in the year. The Ultra trials team and RN personnel proved both active and passive sonar performance for the 2150, which is scheduled to replace the Sonar Type 2050, in service since the 1990s. It incorporates a state-of-the-art user interface to improve operator effectiveness and usability. The digital control of the outboard array minimises interference, reduces ship cabling requirements, aiming to maximise reliability, and extends array maintenance intervals. The sonar will be fitted to Britain’s Type 23 frigates.
As part of its SEA SEARCHER hull-mounted sonar range, Ultra has developed two smaller and lighter weight variants of the Type 2150 for naval vessels up to 1,000 and 2,000t, respectively. With state-of-the-art in-board processing and innovative user displays, this family of sonar systems provides a powerful anti-submarine warfare capability for patrol vessels, frigates and other vessels worldwide.