The Dutch Ministry of Defense has awarded local subsea sensing technology company OPTICS11 a contract to further develop and deliver operational containerized versions of its OptiArray passive fiber-optic towed array system.
The systems will be supplied under the ASWINABO (Anti-Submarine Warfare In A Box) program, an initiative aimed at improving the readiness and self-sufficiency of the Royal Netherlands Navy by enabling the rapid integration of advanced underwater surveillance systems onto a variety of existing crewed and uncrewed maritime platforms.
Traditionally, towed array sonar systems have been permanently installed on a limited number of dedicated ASW vessels. By packaging the technology into a portable, containerized solution, OPTICS11 aims to allow navies to retrofit a broader range of ships according to operational requirements, increasing underwater sensing capacity as the use of autonomous maritime systems continues to grow.
The contract also marks a further step in the adoption of OPTICS11's fiber-optic sensing technology by the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The company said the operational environment is becoming increasingly challenging as autonomous underwater vehicles become more widely available and critical subsea infrastructure faces growing risks from espionage, sabotage and other hybrid threats. As a result, persistent underwater surveillance is becoming an increasingly important component of maritime security.
OptiArray is a passive fiber-optic-based towed array designed for anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance. Unlike conventional electrically powered towed arrays, the system does not rely on powered electronics throughout the sensing chain, reducing self-generated electrical noise and eliminating susceptibility to electromagnetic interference.
