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2016-04-03

Saab Swordfish MPA: Offering Cutting-Edge Performance

The system helps in effectively combating invisible threats facing Asia Pacific

The Asia Pacific region is synonymous with busy sea-lanes, which facilitate the high density of commercial flows to and from many of the world’s busiest ports. The scale and volume of goods and energy transportations are gigantic; the consequences if these flows are disrupted are monumental, effectively incapacitating countries ability to function. The geography of the area, with narrow straits causing bottlenecks and long areas of coastlines, further complicates the challenges and threats faced. Piracy, people and narcotics smuggling, advanced super-quiet submarines, border violations and various terror organisations makes it more important than ever to take all the necessary measures possible in order to mitigate such risks.

Recently, it has been estimated that the number of operational submarines in the Asia Pacific region will be around 130 vessels by 2020. Piracy attacks continue to increase with 68 per cent of the 134 piracy incidents reported worldwide in the first six months of 2015 occurring in South-East Asia. “The protection of national interests and the ability to contain threats in littoral waters and surrounding seas has never been more prevalent,” says Richard Hjelmberg, Head of Marketing and Sales, Saab Airborne Surveillance Systems for the Asia Pacific region.

Increasing Number of Submarines

Surveillance operations in the maritime domain are often complicated and demanding. Sometimes the threat is invisible and the environment more than dynamic. It is a difficult arena and, without the right tools, the detection of unwanted visitors is complicated. There is a need for the ability to carry out systematic maritime ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) over large areas and distances, with an effective platform that is able to communicate between all involved stakeholders.

It is a fact that today´s defence budgets are more and more limited. For many countries this puts new requirements into play when considering new products and systems.

The threats and challenges are evolving and ever changing, and all with their own unique set of circumstances. Quieter submarines, opportunist piracy and border violations must be effectively combated to ensure the safety of people and society, and it’s not an easy task to choose the best tool for the mission as each scenario is different with its own set of requirements.

This situation is typical for Saab’s problem solving approach to keep people and the society safe. As a world-class platform and systems integrator, with a proven track record in delivering complex airborne surveillance solutions, Saab is now offering a cutting-edge multi-role Maritime Patrol Aircraft platform, called Swordfish MPA (maritime patrol aircraft) that best fits the end-users’ operational needs.

The Swedish defence philosophy has always been about sustainable, cost-efficient, but high technology, solutions; Sweden has always had small budgets and high requirements. Over the last eight decades, Saab has developed many products that have contributed to a safer and more secure society within the air, land and sea domains. Commercial and fighter aircraft, torpedoes, radar and sensor systems, submarines and naval surface vessels are all in the Saab portfolio.

The projection of substantial submarine activity in South East Asia Pacific is a game-changer, and raises questions about how to defend the invisible threat. Any nation wanting to protect their borders from intruders and unwanted activities must be able to react quickly, with the ability to detect, track and identify unfriendly submarines.

Nature plays it part too as the Asia Pacific region is home to a demanding operating environment with variable depths, high salinity and unpredictable tides and currents. Factor in the high levels of ambient noise polluting the ocean from the surface traffic and you have some of the most difficult conditions in which to find a submarine. A combination of the right technology, such as Saab’s Swordfish MPA, and operational crews who are highly trained to face such conditions, go hand in hand in making the classic game of cat and mouse easier.

Saab has nearly 80 years of aircraft manufacturing and systems integration at its core, as demonstrated by the success of Gripen fighter and Erieye AEW&C. The company also has many decades of experience in delivering large-scale, strategic airborne surveillance and C4I systems to customers around the world. They also have a track record in developing technology transfer opportunities for customers of all kinds.

Equipped with one of the market’s most capable and operationally proven sensor suite, the Swordfish MPA system gives any nation the tools to protect their territorial waters, coast lines and exclusive economic zones; as well as the ability to perform search and rescue operations including on-scene command and control. Carefully installed and integrated on an appropriate aircraft platform, this multi-role system will effectively detect, track and identify modern submarines and other naval vessels.

Maritime ISR

The Swordfish MPA can arrive on task and quickly raise a local maritime picture by using its 360-degree AESA radar, supported by other sensors such as AIS. Soon after, its next generation command and control system, will support the operators by giving an intelligent level of automation and support, meaning that the decision making process is more efficient and the target of interest can be located more easily. The comprehensive communications suite means that mission critical information can be sent back to the Air Operations Centre real-time, ensuring that an accurate and up-to-date sea picture is readily achieved and distributed.

Search and Rescue

These operations can be both life threatening and time critical. Sometimes occurring many miles from land, the ability to reach an area quickly combined with the carriage of specialist stores can be the difference between life and death. This is when the Swordfish MPA is deployed. Once the target has been located using radar, electro-optics or even visually by an operator using the large observer windows, the aircraft will position to drop life-saving equipment if required. Equipped with an array of communications, the system can take airborne command and control of large-scale incidents, coordinating on-scene rescue assets whilst interfacing with shore-based agencies.

Anti-Submarine Warfare

Modern day, super-quiet submarines make the job of searching, locating and tracking more difficult. Armed with the latest in acoustics technology, together with a significant sonobuoy and torpedo payload, Swordfish MPA is ready to resolve the situation. Either by reporting, intervening or like in any other scenario, take full on-scene command and act as communication central whilst still tracking the target. Being a company that builds the next generation AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) submarine, Saab successfully meets the demands of modern day Anti-Submarine Warfare.

Maritime Patrol takes place in a complex and dynamic environment ad Saab products help in safeguarding people and society by achieving Maritime Domain Awareness. The Swordfish MPA offers strategic ISR capabilities over both sea and land. The system is capable of achieving superior Maritime Domain Awareness through use of its advanced mission system and tightly integrated sensor suite, with finding modern submarines as its specialty.

Protection from the air

When the sea is the threat, protection comes from the air. As seaborne trade and human activities in the coastal zone increase, so do the threats. Piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing, oil pollution, illegal underwater activities and other criminal operations violating the borders are all pressing threats that necessitate the need for superior maritime awareness to increase safety for people. The threats are complex, constantly changing, and vary from place to place. New threats put new demands on maritime security and protection resources, and force technology, manning and tactics to keep adapting.

“We have put all variables into the equation and with the Swordfish MPA. We offer a sophisticated yet cost-efficient solution, which uses the world’s latest, operational proven sensors wrapped in Saab’s very successful C4I mission management system. This is made possible by our vast experience and knowledge in product design and system integration, which reaches across all domains,” says Joakim Mevius, Head of Business Unit Airborne ISR, Saab.

Platform

The Swordfish offers the latest in sensor technology for multiple domain awareness, with finding submarines the cornerstone of its operation. Saab allows customers to choose the platform that best fits their needs and the Swordfish is available on the Bombardier Global 6000 jet aircraft or Q400 turboprop aircraft, a potent combination of world-leading aircraft.

Saab’s Swordfish mission system combines proven, operational COTS sensors from several suppliers, with the company’s own specialist electronic warfare and C4I mission management systems. The advanced and tightly integrated sensor package is displayed on interchangeable workstations with an intelligent degree of automation and system support, meaning more can be achieved with fewer operators•

Reference Text / Photos:www.saabgroup.com

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