News Brief
India, Australia To Develop Undersea Surveillance Technologies For Early Detection And Tracking Of Submarines
Chinese People Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type-093 nuclear attack submarine. (Representative Image) (image via Popular Science)
India and Australia have initiated a comprehensive cooperation in science and technology to enhance undersea surveillance technologies, making their first collaborative defence science project.
The project aims to improve the early detection and tracking of submarines and autonomous underwater vehicles.
The three-year joint research partnership brings together Australia's Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) and India's Defence Research and Development Organisation's Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory.
At the core of the project is exploration of using Towed Array Target Motion Analysis to improve the reliability, efficiency and interoperability of current surveillance capabilities.
Amanda Bessell, Discipline Leader in DSTG’s Information Sciences Division, said Target Motion Analysis was a collective term for target tracking algorithms, developed to estimate the state of a moving target.
“Target Motion Analysis is the crucial element in maintaining platform situational awareness, when a passive mode of operation is required," Bessell said.
This research project is unique in the way it utilises a towed array-based signal processing system.
Sanjeev Arulampalam, Senior Researcher at DSTG, explained a towed array consisted of a long linear array of hydrophones, towed behind a submarine or surface ship on a flexible cable.
"The sound signal is passed through a signal processor, which analyses, filters and detects underwater acoustic signals emitted from maritime targets," Arulampalam added.
The combination of advanced algorithms with the towed array system is intended to manage noise corruption and explore possible performance improvements.
Arulampalam noted, “The project arrangement will involve the sharing of ideas, investigation trials, algorithm demonstrations and performance analysis.”
With the increasing prominence of autonomous vehicles in undersea operations, this research is seen as vital for future defence needs.
The research comes at a time of increasing Chinese maritime assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific, which has raised concerns about security and freedom of navigation, particularly for Australia.
Suneel Randhawa, Chief of the Information Sciences Division, noted the strategic implications, “The output of this research program has the potential to guide the development of future algorithmic directions for our undersea combat system surveillance technologies.”
Highlighting the value of global cooperation, Randhawa added, “We need to harness the best minds in innovation, science and technology to build new capabilities, to innovate at greater pace, and to strengthen our strategic partnerships.”
