FEATURE

NETHERLANDS DEVELOP NEW MINE COUNTERMEASURES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

By Mark Romanow and Captain (RNLN) A.L. Maas

ach NATO nation is responsible for the defense of its own coastal waters. For the Royal Netherlands Navys (RNLN) Mine Countermeasure (MCM ) Force, the North Sea is its principal operating area. There, unfavorable conditions like sandy and muddy seabeds, the variety of types of modern mines and the differences in the seabed require an efficient mine warfare force consisting of a mixture of minehunters and minesweepers. Recently, technical, operational and financial considerations have led the RNLN to reconsider the need and type of its MCM capability. Due to recent cutbacks in the defense budget a familiar problem for all NATO members a proposed coastal minesweeper project was canceled. Happily though, a feasibility study conducted during 1992 and 1993 suggested an inviting alternative for coastal minesweeping: a remote controlled unmanned, simulation sweeping craft systems based on the existing Troika drones used by the German Navy. Therefore, in 1993 the navy approved a new staff requirement for an improved MCM capability, with a project definition phase commenced in 1995.

THE NETHERLANDS NAVYS SOLUTION

All 15 Tripartite minehunters (Alkmaar class) will be modernized and will have provisions for acting as Guidance Control Platforms (GCP) for the modified Troika system. Upgrading of these minehunters, especially the weapon, communication and sensor systems will take place

beyond the year 2000 with a threenation Capability Upkeep Program (CUP), involving staff from France, Belgium and the Netherlands. To overcome limitations on the sweeping depth of the relatively small drones, all minehunters will be equipped with an improved minehunting system (IMHS). This will comprise a Hull Mounted Sonar (HMS) and a Propelled Variable Depth sonar (PVDeS) which is a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV).
Alkmaar-class Mine Hunter

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Taking into account the navys roles, an improved minehunting system and the procurement of three modernized Troika systems should offer good, flexible and sufficient MCM capabilities. By 1998, the RNLN MCM service had in service modernized MCM Vessels tailored to perform their varied tasks. This included 15 minehunters with an IMHS and three minehunters configured as GCP Troika with four drones each. The specifications and design of the command and control for the Troikamod system require close collaboration with the German Navy. The work for the Capability Upkeep Program (CUP) during the project definition phase was managed by a coordination Bureau from the three neighbouring nations to maintain the uniformity as much as possible of the Tripartite class minehunters.

IMPROVED MINEHUNTING SYSTEMS (IMHS)

The operational limitations of the drone influence sweeping system called for an improved overall minehunting capability, with all minehunters equipped with an IMHS system. The PVDS is a minehunting sonar mounted on a ROV linked to the minehunter with an umbilical cable. The latest computer aided detection and classification systems support the sonar operators in the detection and classification phase. By guiding the PVDS close to the bottom, it should be possible to detect and classify camouflaged and partially buried mines with a better probability than the hull-mounted sonar. Indeed, the vehicle can be positioned about 200 metres ahead of the parent ship, which improves safety of the MCMV and crew.

This extremely time consuming method runs the risk of damage to the ROV, whose cost can run up to US $1 million each, by modern mines programmed to destroy the ROV. The One Shot Mine Disposal System (OSMDS) is a cheap on the order of US $20,000 expendable MIDS along the lines of a guided underwater missile or mini-torpedo and will replace the PAP system. The model short-listed for the RNLN CUP is the STN Atlas Elektronik Seafox. The Seafox exists in both I (Inspection recoverable) and C (Combat expendable) versions. Each is 1.3 metres in length, weighs approximately 40 kilograms, has sensors including a 360 degree sonar and a TV camera with lights, a speed in excess of 6 knots with a 500 metre range and equipped with a small shaped charge warhead. A regular Tripartite MCMV could carry approximately 10 Is and 25 Cs, while the Troika version could carry approximately 20 Cs. The OSMDS is easily transportable by two men and a standard load-out has the safety advantage of requiring substantially less on board explosives than a normal load-out of mine disposal charges.

late the magnetic signature of a large vessel. However, with the Troika the steel construction of the hull itself forms an integral part of the magnet. Steel placed inside an electrical coil can increase the field strength by as much as 15 times. The design of the hull and the coils can, therefore, not be seen independently of one another. The basic design of the existing German Troika is more or less followed. The main body of the vessel is a heavy unframed steel cylinder. This steel cylinder has a good shock resistance and most equipment items are placed inside this cylinder. This includes propulsion, engine, compressors and most electrical cabinets.

TROIKA CAPABILITY UPDATE PROGRAM

Unmanned and remote controlled craft are new for the RNLN. This results in new demands on a command and control system. Using unmanned craft required a new design philosophy with safety standards placed in a new light. During sweeping operations, the drone can be subject to high shock loads, but with no one on board the vessel in this situation, it is only the equipment that is exposed to shock loads. The result is that no naval personnel and a relative low investment is placed in the high risk area. But the Troika system only became feasible when the requirement of target simulation (Target Setting Mode) was dropped and was replaced by the demand of producing a ship-like signature which will trigger known mines (Mine Setting Mode). A relatively short vessel like the 90tonne Troika (maximum speed of 10 knots) is unable to produce a magnetic field with a length long enough to simuStreamlined bow and stern pieces are placed at the forward and aft extremities of the cylinder to increase the displaced volume. The part between the forward and aft part of the cylinder is covered with a permeable and nonmagnetic skin. This basic concept is simple, relatively easy to produce and has a good shock resistance. The final result can be viewed in the picture.

MINE IDENTIFICATION AND DISPOSAL SYSTEM (MIDS)

The need to be able to destroy ground mines effectively, now and in the future, led to the requirement for an expandable Mine Identification and Disposal System (MIDS). Currently the PAP ROV drone lays a disposal charge near the identified mine and must be recovered by the MCMV before the charge can be acoustically detonated by the MCMV.

THE ACOUSTIC MINESWEEPING SYSTEM

Modern naval mines are equipped with passive and/or acoustic sensors. These enable the mine to measure the closest point of approach and to determine the optimal firing moment. The sensors operate in the low, medium and high frequency ranges. In order to combat modern mines, the acoustic mine sweeping system should generate a broadband noise in the LF and MF range. The HF transmitters

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Alkmaar-class Mine Hunters

Because the drones will not be equipped with a radar, they rely on the control platforms navigation radar to track all targets surrounding and including the drones. Command and control will integrate and correlate data of tracked targets with DGPS positional data and calculate anti-collision warnings for the drones

HUMAN FACTORS
Command and control provides for automatic sweep operations in accordance with a pre-defined plan. For operation monitoring, human intervention, planning and evaluation, two identical consoles are foreseen. The drone operator has the following tasks: monitor the navigational, tactical and technical status of the drones; manual navigation when necessary, including evasive maneuvers; and act in case of any damage to the drones. The navy concluded that monitoring and control of four drones simultaneously is manageable for one operator, provided that not more than two drones need a human action at the same time. In the worst case situation, the second console will be used for the drone monitoring and control. In other cases, this console will be used for operation planning and evaluation.

should be able to mimic in the frequency range of minehunting sonars in order to use the drones in precursor operations. One of the options which is being investigated at this moment is an LF airgun system in a compact towed body in combination with several MF and HF transmitters integrated in the hull of the drone. The airgun system is a proven technique from the offshore industry. It is very reliable, easy to maintain and has very good shock resistance properties. Depending on the number of airguns it is possible to simulate any propeller cavitation noise and spectral lines in the LF-band.

COMMAND AND CONTROL

As laid down in the staff requirements, Troika operations must be conducted safely, accurately and by a minimum number of personnel. This requires the drones to operate as automatically as possible, guided as in a pre-defined sweeping or transit plan, to make monitoring and control of the drones a one-man operation. A second person is necessary for planning and drone control in the worst case situations. This requires the following: computer aided planning facilities; automatic execution of plans, including automated scheduling; drone positioning based upon its DGPS system; automatic navigation safety observation for the drones. A transit plan (from harbor to the operational area) consists of a number of tracks for the drones and the control vessel to follow.

A sweeping plan basically consists of a number of parallel tracks, each marked with the number of times to be swept. For planning supporting command and control will be able to: advise on track spacing by use of sweep performance data; generate multiple tracks; produce advice on the sweeping effort for different tracks, assigning the number of times a track has to be swept. Once a sweeping plan is established, tracks are assigned to drones. Real-rime scheduling is necessary to cope with evasive manoeuvers, due to other sea traffic; drone platform malfunction such as machinery or sweeping system malfunction; speed differences and other navigation aspects. Due to real-time scheduling the tracks of a drone are not pre-programmed in detail. At the end of a track, a new track will automatically be assigned and a track turn generated. During a sweeping operation, realtime evaluation will be provided that involves displaying the covered path, estimates of overall effort and time for the operation. Command and control will transfer the track to follow, including sweep system setting, speed to sweep and other data as far as defined in the plan to the drones. The drone follows this track using its navigational sensors (DGPS, compass etc.), its autopilot and machinery. The actual position of the drones, course, speed and several status data will be transferred to the control platform. These data are used for: monitoring drone status and position; scheduling, evaluation and planning; and navigational safety calculations.

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

On the control platform itself, existing equipment must be integrated. So, as far as possible, the hardware and software components, will be commercial off the shelf. This also means that, in defining system components, hardware and software have the highest possible commonality with the CUP program and the IMHS developments. b

Mark Romanow is an independent Defence/Geopolitical Analyst, based in Edmonton. Captain (RNLN) A.L. Maas is Commander Netherlands Mine Countermeasures Force.

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