Ultra Maritime will be supplying the Royal Australian Navy’s surface fleet with its latest ADC counter-torpedo technology.
Under the terms of a new deal struck with the Defense Australia Ultra Maritime Australia will install its naval surface vessels with Acoustic Device Countermeasure (ADC) units.
ADCs are part of Ultra Maritime’s Sea Deceptor family of torpedo countermeasures designed to protect surface ships and submarines from incoming undersea weapons.
They act as an intelligent “soft-kill” acoustic defence system via acoustic mimicry; when an incoming torpedo is detected, the system is rapidly deployed from the vessel and generates powerful, tailored acoustic signatures that mimic the unique sound of the host ship.
As per an Ultra Maritime press statement: “This latest contract further strengthens Ultra Maritime’s role in supporting Australia’s torpedo defence capabilities.
“It complements the company’s recent selection to supply the Surface Ship Torpedo Defence (SSTD) system for the Royal Australian Navy’s Hunter-class frigates, enhancing integrated undersea protection across the fleet.
To date, Ultra Maritime has delivered more than 35,000 countermeasures and is the current manufacturer of all production acoustic device countermeasures currently in use by the U.S. Navy and the U.K. Royal Navy as well as the RAN.
In November last year it was announced that the RAN’s Hunter-class frigates will deploy Ultra Maritime’s Surface Ship Torpedo Defence (SSTD), combining a single in-line towed array with automatic threat alert.
The contract was awarded by prime contractor BAE Systems Maritime Australia; Ultra Maritime’s Hull Mounted Sonar (HMS) has also been selected for the Hunter class.
Both systems are included in the baseline Global Combat Ship anti-submarine warfare (ASW) design, meaning the RAN will share commonality with the U.K. and Norway’s Type 26 frigates, and Canada’s River-class destroyers.
- You can read more details about the latest contract on the Ultra Maritime website