Integrated Marine Security System

The result was a security capability demonstration against air, surface and underwater targets. This was the first time that a seabed fibre-optic passive sensor system has been combined with diver detection sonar, high-quality CCTV and radar systems to provide a layered approach to maritime security. With the information displayed in one single tactical picture using integrated graphical overlays, multiple surface, underwater and air targets were tracked during the demonstration.

The FORCIS fibre seabed array, high-performance Blighter radar, VDL Protector deterrent, VDL Seenite high-performance CCTV system and the class-leading Cerberus Diver Detection Sonar (DDS).

FORCIS is a system of fibre-optic sensors which is deployed and buried into the seabed to provide a low-cost, low-maintenance barrier for detecting targets both on and under the water. FORCIS is designed to work in depths of up to 300m, although the sensors are qualified to a much greater depth for the offshore oil and gas industry. The benefit of the system is that it can provide a trip-wire alert when targets cross the array but at significant ranges from the shore installation providing maximum response time to further classify and engage the potential threat. Typically the arrays can be installed up to 40 kilometres from the shore or control station, with up to 12km array sections available.

Cerberus is the company’s class-leading diver detection sonar which has recently been chosen by the South Korean Navy to protect its key military installations from diver attack and is soon to be deployed on a number of new surface combatants.