Sonardyne launches Vigilant Forward Looking Sonar

UK-based Sonardyne International has launched ‘Vigilant’ a forward looking sonar (FLS) that provides navigation and collision avoidance capability for surface and underwater naval vessels.

Providing live and past vessel track, detailed 3D bathymetry out to 600 m and advanced warnings of navigational obstacles on and beneath the waterline out to 1.5 km, Vigilant FLS offers naval forces with unprecedented situational awareness.

Vigilant is suitable for a range of naval platforms, from military ships to diver delivery systems (DDS) entering challenging operational zones. It provides an early warning of hazards, from rocks and wrecks to sand banks and otherwise unseen, below-the-surface obstacles, over a 90 degree field of view.

For unmanned surface vehicles (USV) of the type increasingly being employed to conduct intelligence gathering and over-the-horizon reconnaissance missions, Vigilant comes ready to support onboard automatic control and obstacle avoidance systems, enabling full below the waterline awareness.

Vigilant provides two operational modes: 3D and Sonar, which helmsman and vehicle pilots can seamlessly toggle between. Sonar mode detects obstacles in the water out to more than 1.5 km giving large vessels in particular valuable time to react. The system’s configurable alarms ensure hazards are not overlooked during periods of high operator workload.

In 3D mode, users are able to view an easy to interpret, real-time generated three-dimensional colour map of the bathymetry out to 600 m. They’re also able to view a profile display, showing the depth of an obstacle and if, for example, a DDS could safely manoeuvre underneath it. Sonar mode also continues in the background during 3D mode, at the selected range.

Ioseba Tena, Sonardyne’s Global Business Manager for Defence, says: “Vigilant FLS is a powerful new tool for those working in theatres of operation where knowing what lies ahead is mission critical.”