Eyes and Ears Underwater

Palak Gupta

Since radar does not work underwater and water is an acoustic medium, Sound Navigation and Ranging (Sonar) acts as the eyes and ears of a naval vessel. The applications of Sonar include detection, tracking and destroying enemy ships, submarines and underwater mines, thus playing a vital role in anti-submarine warfare (ASW). Sonars can be vaguely broken down into two categories: active and passive. Connected to a large sonic database, passive sonar ‘listens’ without transmitting and hence does not give out the identity and location of the user.

Advanced Active cum Passive Integrated Sonar System (HUMSA NG); Integrated Submarine Sonar (USHUS)

In a bid to give impetus to the submarine hunting capability of the Indian Navy, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in 2017 had approved the procurement of nine Active Towed Sonar System (ACTAS) for warships to the tune of Rs 450 crore. The clearance bears enormous operational significance for the Indian Navy.

These ACTAS will be fitted on the indigenous Kamorta class ASW corvette and will be procured from German firm Atlas Elektronik which is a naval/marine electronics and systems company.

Under the deal, the first six systems will come from Germany and the remaining three will be manufactured in India in cooperation with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

This (a batch of nine ACTAS) is an additional requirement. Six ACTAS have already been fitted on the ships that have been taken on contract, said Cmde Anil Jai Singh (retd).

In 2014, the Indian ministry of defence (MoD) had signed a contract with Atlas Elektronik for the delivery of six ACTAS for the Indian Navy.

The Indian N