Abstract:
The acoustic vulnerability of a naval vessel is related to the level of the noise radiated by its various machinery components, its propulsion system, and its underway disturbance to the water through which it passes. These sources provide a collective radiated signature that can be sensed by hostile vessels and ‘smart’ mines, contributing to the vessels vulnerability. This radiated noise signature will also be sensed by the vessels own sensors, degrading their performance, and limiting their ability to sense the presence of hostile vessels, again contributing to the vessel`s vulnerability. Hence navies take all possible measures to ensure that their vessels radiated signatures are as low as possible. Measurement of the radiated noise signature of naval platforms is conventionally achieved by underway assessment on numerous types of acoustic Dynamic Ranges. Most common are the Vertical Array and Horizontal Array configurations with the former being more usual for submarine ranging, and the latter for surface vessels. The information obtained from such ranging enables the vessels` operators to successfully manage the vessels` acoustic signature, and thus minimise its vulnerability to acoustic detection. The paper discusses the general concept of vulnerability, and then in some detail the techniques of dynamic ranging in common use by major navies, identifying the advantages and drawbacks of this approach to acoustic signature management, and its application by MTC for the Pakistan Navy.
Page(s):
139-150
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Proceedings 5th International Bhurban Conference on Applied Sciences and Technology , Volume: 0, Issue: 0, Year: 2007