German HUNTER Sonar for Filipino Frigates Clears Sea Acceptance Tests

Germany’s ELAC SONAR GmbH announced that tests of HUNTER hull-mounted sonar for the Philippine Navy's Del Pilar-class frigates has completed sea acceptance tests.

“This successful sea acceptance test (SAT) concludes a long design, development, integration, installation and acceptance period. We will be fitting the HUNTER system to two more ships for the Philippine Navy in the next 12 months, and with this additional reference ELAC SONAR hope to have more exciting projects in the pipeline,” ELAC SONAR said.

The tests were completed on July 27.

HUNTER 2.0 will be integrated with Hanwha’s combat management system. It can carry out anti-submarine warfare (ASW) in active and passive modes in shallow and deep waters for panoramic detection of submarines and other objects.

The system provides active and passive surveillance, analysis and classification capabilities. The system features a forward looking mine avoidance mode as well.

To ensure the active detection of targets, HUNTER 2.0 features Doppler Detection and coherent FM processing. Doppler detection allows the operator to filter stationary echo information and display only moving targets. Due to the high Doppler resolution of HUNTER 2.0, even slow-moving submarines or AUVs can be detected. FM pulses are processed coherently by the system, providing the very high distance resolution required for the classification of targets and the detection of mines in mine avoidance mode. A confidence filter cleans up the display, removes echo information from surface reflections and reduces the probability of false alarms. Targets are automatically detected and tracked by the system, although the operator is able to set
up targets manually.

The passive mode of HUNTER 2.0 includes LOFAR, broadband and DEMON processing. The system automatically identifies fast moving objects as torpedoes and delivers a torpedo warning. The tuneable audio channel supports the operator in the classification of underwater targets and noise sources. Significant traits of detected signals can be compared to classification database entries.

HUNTER 2.0 is the most cost effective and best performing solution for new and modernization programs for destroyers, frigates, corvettes or offshore patrol vessels (OPV). Various transducer configurations are available with operating frequencies ranging from 4 kHz to 30 kHz. The optional intercept array allows the detection of active transmissions up to a frequency of 100 kHz.