Leonardo has presented its new ATAS sensor (Active Towed Array Sonar) that was developed in line with the Italian fleet modernisation programme.
The unveiling took place Tuesday at the Euronaval expo in Paris.
ATAS was designed to equip the Italian Navy’s new multi-purpose off-shore patrol vessels (PPAs) and can be used in combat operations at a variety of depths to over 300m, the company said.
It was also noted that the sensor is smaller and lighter than other active sonars with a similar range, measuring one metre long and weighing eight tonnes. According to Leonardo, ATAS offers detection that overcomes the first acoustic convergence zone, that is at up to 40km in the Atlantic Ocean in certain seasons.
The new sensor uses low and medium sonar frequencies, providing simultaneous, panoramic surveillance in active and passive modes. This enables the sonar to acquire and record target characteristics data and automatically extract the acoustic characteristics of targets.