Thales with the CAPTAS-4 system seems to be a strong candidate to equip the Constellation-class
The RFI was issued on Monday with responses due on 14 February, giving just a week to interested parties to reply. The RFI notice reads:
The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is conducting market research to identify potential sources of a mature, fielded, and proven Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) System that possesses the capability to accomplish guided missile frigate (FFG) Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) mission requirements. The CONSTELLATION-class guided missile frigate (FFG 62) is a highly capable and survivable multi-mission ship designed for operations in blue water and littoral environments. The FFG 62 class requires a VDS System that can operate in challenging environments with the capability to detect, locate, and identify a broad range of submarines, unmanned underwater vehicles, and other underwater objects. SCOPE The U.S Navy is looking for information on alternative VDS solutions that meet the requirements of this RFI.� In particular, the goal of this RFI is to gather information on alternative proven VDS Systems that can meet the In-Yard Need Date (IYND) of November 2023 for inline installation on the FFG 62 at the shipbuilder facility and have achieved Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9 or equivalent. In particular, this includes systems with proven reliable performance that have been demonstrated successfully in an operational environment.
Twelve key “required capabilities” are listed in the RFI:
- Provide an overview of your company’s experience and capabilities in providing a mature, fielded, and proven VDS System.
- Discuss the typical production lead time for the VDS System and any other factors contributing to the production timeline. Discuss the feasibility of meeting an IYND of November 2023 for installation of the VDS System aboard FFG 62 and identify major challenges that impact schedule.
- Provide general arrangement drawings of the VDS System with handling gear in the deployed and stowed configuration.
- Provide environmental operational capability documentation that includes the proven range of operational speed, ability to perform during ship maneuvering, and operational sea state based on the NATO Sea State Table.
- Provide a discussion of the operationally proven reliability and maintainability of the VDS system.
- Provide the shock grade ratings associated with the VDS System with handling gear in the stowed and deployed positions.
- Provide the weight, power, and environmental requirements for the VDS System when installed shipboard.
- Provide any unclassified documentation that demonstrates your system has achieved a TRL 9 or equivalent.
- Describe the level of integration the VDS system has achieved with the SQQ-89.
- Provide the number of fielded VDS systems in operation.
- Identify the vessels that field the VDS System.
- Describe the status and capacity capabilities of the VDS System production line.
During the Surface Navy Association national symposium (SNA 2022) held in January, Sam LaGrone from USNI News asked CAPT Kevin Smith, program manager (PMS 515) if a VDS provider has been selected. The Constellation-class program manager replied:
“So for the variable depth sonar, right now we have a schedule that we are looking at meeting and we have Fincantieri as a prime contractor obviously and they are looking at subcontractors. So we have a baseline. Right now we’re looking at, okay, what’s the best athlete […]. As far as where we’re trying to head, we want to make sure we have somebody that can meet our schedule.”
CAPT Kevin Smith, program manager (PMS 515)
NAVSEA and Fincantieri reply to Naval News
Following SNA 2022, Naval News reached out to both NAVSEA and Fincantieri to learn more. We have just received the responses as the RFI was issued this week.
Naval News: Can you please confirm that the VDS was originally part of the GFE package ? If so, when did it get broken out and handed out to Fincantieri Marinette Marine to decide?
NAVSEA – At the start of the FFG(X) Concept Design Phase in 2019, the Raytheon Dual-mode Array Transmitter DART Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) system was Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). Over the evolution of the Concept Design Phase, the selection of the sonar system was transferred to industry as Commercial Furnished Equipment (CFE) to enable integration and optimization of the system into each of the competitive designs.
Naval News: Can you confirm that contenders are Raytheon (with the DART already selected for the LCS ASW mission package) and Thales / Leonardo DRS (they have a joint venture called Advanced Acoustic Concepts) with a system called “CAPTAS-4”?
NAVSEA – The Navy has released a sources sought solicitation to identify viable alternate Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) candidate systems for the CONSTELLATION-class Frigate program. The Frigate program design currently utilizes the government-directed, contractor furnished, Raytheon Dual-mode Array Transmitter (DART) VDS which is under development for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. Ongoing testing of DART has identified challenges in hydrodynamic stability and transducer reliability and performance, which in turn have delayed testing and production of the system. While efforts remain underway by Raytheon to resolve the issues with DART, the system’s developmental delay has increased risk for the CONSTELLATION-class Frigate, which is of concern to both the Navy and the Frigate’s shipbuilder Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM). Consequently the Navy will evaluate the schedule and technical risk associated with other mature VDS alternatives identified by vendor responses to this solicitation. This assessment will inform a subsequent decision on the Frigate VDS configuration.
A spokesman for Fincantieri Marine Group in the U.S. today provided Naval News with the following statement:
“The variable-depth sonar for the Constellation Class Frigate was not a government furnished equipment (GFE) set. In our contract with the government, we were directed to use a particular vendor for the VDS, however we were not wholly satisfied with the directed provider’s proposed VDS solution. You referenced the RFI to industry released earlier this week, which supports this latest effort to find an operational and available technical solution for the Constellation Class Frigate.”
Thales CAPTAS-4 VDS
Naval News learned from a number of sources over the past couple of months that French defense electronics company Thales and its CAPTAS-4 system was being considered to be fitted aboard the future frigates of the U.S. Navy. Sources include a French member of parliament, two different naval shipbuilding sources and several French Navy sources. Those sources were directly involved with the matter or familiar with it because they have heard about ongoing talks.
Contacted by Naval News this week, a Thales spokesperson could not confirm or deny that the company will indeed answer NAVSEA’s RFI. The spokesperson however did confirm that a total of 80 CAPTAS systems (across all variant: CAPTAS 1, 2 and 4) have been sold to date. Thales also confirmed to us that CAPTAS-4 has already been integrated and tested with the U.S. Navy’s AN/SQQ-89 Undersea Warfare Combat System. This was done in the 2010-2012 time frame as part of the Advanced Demonstration Model (ADM) for the U.S. Navy LCS program. For this program, Thales was competing against Raytheon and eventually lost.
Thales typically partners with Leonardo DRS via a joint venture called “Advanced Acoustic Concepts” (or AAC) to pitch its sonar systems in the United States.
Designed and produced by Thales, the CAPTAS-4 (for Combined Active and Passive Towed Array Sonar, also known as S2087 in the UK) equips first rank anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates such as the Royal Navy Type 23 and Type 26 frigates, the French Navy FREMM and FDI frigates, the Italian FREMMs, the Spanish F110 frigates, and the Chilean Type 23.
According to Thales, CAPTAS-4 brings unrivalled performance against quiet submarines to achieve any ASW missions including escort, area sanitization and own force protection. It enables surface vessels to hunt submarines at considerable distances and detect them beyond the range from which they can launch an attack.
For the record, French Navy FREMM frigates fitted with the CAPTAS-4 won the US Navy’s 6th fleet Hook’em award two years in a row. The U.S. Navy is an existing user of another Thales sonar: the Airborne Low Frequency Sonar (ALFS) fitted aboard the MH-60R maritime helicopter. According to Thales, when used in conjunction with a Low Frequency VDS, the FLASH/VDS combination constitutes a terrific ASW system to detect, locate and classify more and more stealthy and capable submarines in any environment.
During a recent interview regarding the 2021 Hook’em award, Naval News asked the Commanding Officer of French FREMM Frigate Languedoc (D652) if the CAPTAS-4 could be a great addition to the Constellation-class for ASW. Here is his reply in video:
Raytheon DART AN/SQS-62 VDS
Contacted by Naval News during SNA 2022, a Raytheon Missiles & Defense spokesperson said:
“The AN/SQS-62 Variable Depth Sonar, produced by Raytheon Missiles & Defense, is the program of record for the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship’s Anti-Submarine Warfare mission package. Aligning with the designation in the FFG Prime RFP, Raytheon proposed the US Navy LCS VDS Program of Record as the Constellation Class Frigate VDS solution for the frigate.
The VDS is a modular, single-tow sonar that speeds detection, discrimination and engagement of undersea threats, and its smaller, lightweight design frees up space and manpower onboard ships”.
The spokesperson confirmed today that the DART / SQS-62 is currently in production and integrated with the AN/SQQ-89 Undersea Warfare Combat System.
The AN/SQS-62 VDS, is a modular, towed sonar that speeds detection, discrimination and engagement of undersea threats. It can detect and localize submarines, unmanned underwater vehicles and other underwater objects. This information may be sent to MH-60R Seahawk helicopters or P-8 Poseidon maritime aircraft, which can deploy MK 54 lightweight torpedoes – a true end-to-end capability for littoral combat ships and future frigates.
Other alternatives
A number of other VDS systems are available from US and international vendors. Here is a non exhaustive list of potential (yet unlikely in our opinion) candidates who could reply to the NAVSEA RFI:
Italy’s Leonardo introduced the WASS ATAS (Active Towed Array Sonar) system at Euronaval 2016. It is a low and medium frequency active and passive VDS selected by the Italian Navy for the Thaon di Revel-class offshore patrol vessel.
Finland’s Patria and its Sonac DTS Sonar system. The system has been specifically designed to meet the demanding acoustic underwater environmental conditions of the Baltic Sea. It was selected for the future corvettes of the Finnish Navy.
The Sea Sabre from Ultra. It consists of a tow body, providing a high power acoustic source from a stable platform across a wide range of tow speeds, combined with a QUAD directional passive
receive array and its tow cable.
L3Harris has the Low-Frequency Active Towed Sonar (LFATS). It has been successfully deployed on ships as small as 100 tons.
Germany’s Atlas Elektronik and its Active Towed Array Sonar (ACTAS). It is designed to detect, track and classify submarines, torpedoes, and surface vessels, including speed boats.