Seewolf reaches milestone in detection of buried mines

Sea Power, Dec 2000

Tests carried out by STN Atlas Elektronik with a new sonar may prove to be the breakthrough step in the development of the proposed Seewolf system for locating buried mines. The German underwater specialists already had performed initial trials of the new parametric sonar system in April and May. Bottom-laid mines, buried in sand for the tests, were detected by the parametric sonar and displayed on a monitor. A modified Seefuchs system, the smaller variant of the future Seewolf system, was used as the test carrier.

Buried mines can be detected neither by optical means nor by traditional sonars. Parametric sonar systems are capable of penetrating into the seabed and thereby detecting buried mines. When used in combination with a remotely operated underwater vehicle, they form a system that can detect and destroy such mines.

The most important element in this functional chain, the parametric sonar used for the detection and localization of mines, was developed by STN Atlas, reportedly in cooperation with a British partner.