The company based in Lübeck, north of Germany, introduced new solutions they currently offer to Navies, and which are on shelves or at different stage of development.
It is notably the case with their expendable communication buoy (ECB), device used by a submarine to communicate with the surface while it is submerged. Gabler is currently working on an entire family of ECBs that can be launched via different ejector locks.
The ECB that Gabler has on shelf is a unidirectional data transfer version. The data are uploaded in the ECB before launch and are transmitted via iridium satellite when it reaches the surface. The data can be also retrieved physically. It is launched as ‘fire and forget’ device. The ECB is single-use item meaning it scuttles when it has no more battery or when the timer set in advance ends. It is currently in service within “NATO navies having German-made submarines” according to a Gabler representative. He added that talks with other navies including Canada are ongoing for this type of product.
Gabler wishes to continue innovation within submarine radiocommunication by offering new versions of their ECB with new features and of different sizes. Indeed, several types are under development. One should be equipped with acoustic transducer at the bottom of the buoy to allow bidirectional comms – between surface and submarines – still via satellites. The submarine would this time be able to transmit and receive information. Another variant would consist in fibre optical-connected one allowing the submarine to transmit and receive more amount of data such as video or other type of footages, but also to support subsea navigation thanks to the integrated GNSS. Finally, the last one introduced would be fitted with a programmable ascent delay. It would give time for the submarine to sail away from the radio source to prevent any enemy’s detection, for example. The Gabler representative expressed that customization is always possible: GPS can be integrated in it in order the buoy to be retrieved if used during exercise of for distress signal.
New seabed monitoring system
Euronaval was also an opportunity to showcase their underwater acoustic recording and monitoring solutions. The acquisition of Develogic – company specialize in underwater acoustics – allows Gabler to enlarge its underwater solutions. Among them, a solution for the protection of underwater critical infrastructures was displayed during the exhibition – NEREUS.
The Modular Seafloor Lander (MSL) NEREUS is a flexible solution capable to host different types of sensors like hydrophones, CTD etc. Meant for intelligence gathering, and to be placed in strategic areas like entry of harbors, narrow straits, nearby underwater infrastructures, the platform can collect plenty of information, records and detects varieties of targets. If fitted with an acoustic and/or optical modems, the data can be retrieved via expendable communication buoy which could be launched by the platform, a USV or any other type of platforms capable of receiving these types of data. Otherwise, the platform can be retrieved with a crane to get the full data set.
This solution is already in service but keeps being updated and evolving. Gabler is currently working with WTD 71 (Bundeswehr Technical Center for Ships and Naval Weapons, Maritime Technology and Research) on the capability to detect and triangulate a noise which would come from a target like submarines, UUVs or divers to position it. “The German Navy possesses 10 of those so far but some adjustments are still being made.” said the representative. Likewise, classification capability on software is still under development.
“If you have a library with different frequencies of enemy submarines or any other potential of threat, the software would be able to classify the target, friendly or not, and the ECB can pops up and sends an alarm via satellite to shore in order to take appropriate actions” Gabler representative.
This work has been made possible by collaboration with the German company North.io based in Kiel. Their work consists of processing, analyzing and picturizing the data collected. Based on the detection and classification carried out by NEREUS, they could draw up a map of the environment with all the assets in the area.
