It is 8 m long, weighs 800 kg, and emits sounds and performs maneuvers typical of a submarine – this is how the autonomous submarine Saab AUV62-AT operates, which shortly powered the Polish navy. The equipment has just reached Gdynia and is undergoing method reception. It'll be utilized to train the ZOP forces.
Under this abbreviation, all vessels intended to search and combat submarines are hidden. Poland has rather quite a few them. specified tasks can be performed by 2 frigates specified as Oliver Hazard Perry, OrP Corvette ‘Kashub’, but besides SH-2G, Mi-14PŁ and newly acquired AW-101. The best way to train their crews is to work straight with the submarine. but this form of training generates considerable costs. In addition, the Polish navy presently has only 1 submarine – Eagle ORPwho entered the service in the late 1980s. Therefore, he is looking for fresh ways to keep the ZOP forces on advanced alert.
This is the goal of acquiring the modern strategy of the Swedish company Saab Dynamics AB. Its main component is the autonomous submarine AUV62-AT. It is 8 m long, weighs 800 kg, and in the water speech it behaves... almost like an authentic submarine. First of all, he makes sounds characteristic of him. – Before sending the vehicle on the mission, the operator is programming acoustic signatures. It has passive and active signatures to choose from – says Captain Mar. Adrian Panasiuk of the Submarine Division 3 Fleets Ships in Gdynia. As he explains, in the first case, the device emits itself sounds which are then captured and analyzed by the operator of the hydrolocation station on the frigate, corvette or helicopter. In the second, the vehicle captures the signal sent from the deck of the said units and then strengthens it and sends it back. – The AUV62-AT operator can set different signal strength or decide to interlaced signatures during 1 mission. It may even decide that the vehicle will emit 2 signatures simultaneously. The number of combinations is tremendous here – Captain Mar admits. Panasiuk.
The vehicle itself moves along a pre-programmed route. The operator selects the traffic parameters before the task – speed, course, depth. However, if necessary, it will control to manual control. – The vehicle can embark on a mission from shore, but besides from a ship. The swimming unit does not request to be specially adapted for its operation. It's adequate to be equipped with a crane that drops the drone into the water and then takes it out of the water and carries it back aboard. The mission of the vehicle can be monitored from the laptop.
AUV62-AT was ordered by the Polish Army nearly 2 years ago. This period he reached Gdynia. presently undergoing method reception in 3 Fleet Ships. It should be in the equipment of the submarine squadron soon. Why right there? – We have specialists well prepared to operate in an underwater environment. We know a lot about the spread of sound in water tone, about the salinity of the Baltic. We can choose the right parameters for individual missions – says Captain Mar. Panasiuk.
Their work will be utilized primarily by seamen and sailors from the Battleship Squadron. – This will give us more freedom to train operators of hydroacoustic stations. And this is very crucial to us – emphasised Mr Piotr Smela, the commander of the dOB. – The Baltic is not a deep water, but creates excellent conditions for operating submarines. It is simply a question of circumstantial hydrological conditions – even salinity and how different layers of water form. The underwater sound travels irregularly, the submarine is hard to track. All the more importance should be attached to the training of the ZOP forces – he adds. But that is not the end. After acquiring fresh submarines, the AUV62-AT will besides assist in training their crews. – Submarine ships have wide possibilities. Among them is besides the search for another units of this class – stresses Captain Mar. Panasiuk.
The acquisition of fresh ships for the Navy assumes the “Orka” program.
