Meteksan Defence Strengthens Submarine Platforms with Sonar Systems

Meteksan Defence, which was assigned by the Defence Industries Presidency of the Republic of Turkey with the approach of "Turkey's Underwater Center of Excellence", transfers its sonar capabilities for surface platforms to submarine platforms.

Systems developed by Meteksan Defence for submarine platforms can be listed as follows:

Hydrophones for Passive Sonar Arrays

Flank Array Sonar, 

Front-end Electronics Hardware for Sonar Systems, 

Sonar Signal Processing and Sonar Operator Interface Software,

Acoustics Test Units and Reliable Acoustics Signal Generators

Intercept Passive Sonar, 

Intercept Detection and Ranging Sonar, 

Underwater Acoustics Modem, 

Fiber-Optics Acoustics Sensor Array

While being used in the modernization activities of existing submarines in the Turkish Naval Forces inventory,  these completely indigenous and nationally developed systems are also of great importance for the Turkey’s MİLDEN National Submarine Project.

MSH-01 Hydrophone, which is completely developed by Meteksan Defence with its own resources, is currently being used in AY/PREVEZE class submarines as,

Sensor unit of passive cylindrical hydrophone sonar array (CHA), 

Sensor unit of passive ranging sonar array (PRA), 

Sensing unit of Own Noise Analysis (ONA) hydrophones

MSH-01 can also be used in the corresponding sonar systems of Type 209 Mod 1000 to Type 209 Mod 1400 class submarines, which are in service both in the Turkish Navy and in worldwide Navies.

Meteksan Defence also produces the sensors, which are mounted along starboard and port sides of submarine hull and form the wet-end side of flank array sonar. Sensor unit of flank array sonar, named as MSH-11, is also intended to be used in flank array sonar systems of Type 209 Mod 1400 class submarines, which are in service both in the Turkish Navy and in worldwide Navies.

Being Contractor of the Sonar Sub Systems of TÜBİTAK BİLGEM in the MUREN PREVEZE National Integrated Submarine Combat Management System Development Project, Meteksan Defence is assigned as responsible for the development of front-end electronics equipment that amplifies and converts the analog signals coming from sensors to digital, as well as the sonar signal processing software. Test units and acoustics signal generators have also been developed during the design phase of the hardware and software components of the project.

Intercept Sonars, developed by Meteksan Defence, are used in order to detect and track active sonar transmissions from both surface and subsurface platforms. Intercept passive sonar (IPS), estimates the bearing of the active sonar targets, while providing pulse details, which can be used in the classification of the detected targets. Intercept detection and ranging sonar (IDRS), is an upgraded version of IPS, which provides the range estimation of the detected target in addition to the benefits provided by IPS. Capabilities provided to the submarine platforms by intercept sonar arrays, are crucial for tactical decisions in military operations. Intercept Passive Sonar, is currently being used in AY class submarines. Intercept Detection and Ranging Sonar is planned to be integrated on PREVEZE class submarines within the scope of the MUREN PREVEZE Project and will be operational soon.

Meteksan Defence, in order to contribute to the future concepts of underwater acoustics, develops new generation sonar array system such as fiber-optics acoustics sensor array. By using phase difference information between light sources in fiber optics lines the acoustics pressure under the sea level is calculated and acoustics noise sources like divers, active sonars, unmanned underwater vehicles, submarines etc. can be detected and analyzed. In addition, new tactical operation concepts are also being developed, as a side outcome of the development process, since the acoustics data, implicitly included in the phase information of the light source, can be transferred over long distances. Application areas of the fiber-optics sonar array can be listed as follows:

Flank Array Sonars/Passive Ranging Sonars for Submarines

Towed Array Sonars for Submarines

Own Noise Analyzing Sensors

Özgür CANKARA, Vice President of Meteksan Defence, explains the importance of the submarine sonar systems they have developed as follows; “As you know, the activities of the National Submarine (MİLDEN) Project continues at a great pace. Sonar systems are one of the important components of this project, in which maximum local contribution is observed. As Meteksan Defence, we work not only for today's but also for the future's sonar technologies. By adapting our Fiber-Optic Acoustic Sensors to submarine platforms, we aim to contribute to the submarine needs of the future in the MİLDEN Project.”