A contract has been awarded for the provision of support for ‘Sonar 2094’ until March 2025.
According to the contract award notice:
“The DE&S Underwater Electronic Warfare (UEW) team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to place a contract with GeoAcoustics Limited (“the Company”) for the provision of In-Service Support to Sonar 2094 (S2094).”
Sonar 2094 is operated by the Echo class and their survey motorboats. According to the Royal Navy, “the Survey Motor Boat can fly the nest independently from the mother ship to survey shallow waters”.
The boats carry state of the art equipment on board, such as the 2040 Multibeam Echo Sounder, EA400 Single Beam Sounder and the GeoAcoustics 2094 Side Scan Sonar. These allow it to update charts and take various scientific readings.
According to Kongsberg (GeoAcousrtics are a subsidiary of Kongsberg) on their website:
“Sonar 2094 Digital is based upon the industry standard GeoAcoustics Dual Frequency Side Scan Sonar. Around 1000 of these systems have been sold since their 1994 launch and hundreds of thousands of line-kilometers have been surveyed across the World’s oceans. The system is renowned for its data quality, ease of use, ruggedness and dependability.
Sonar 2094 Digital combines these features with the latest in digital technology to generate a giant leap in system performance:
- Simultaneous dual frequency, 114 kHz and 410 kHz
- 24bit data acquisition offering a dynamic range that makes acquisition AGC and TVG obsolete thus providing repeatable results
- Extended range performance through 20 MHz raw data sampling and dynamic digital filtering techniques
- Improved resolution
- Very long cable operation
Sonar 2094 Digital incorporates the established 159D towfish design which is now equipped with new, fully digital electronics, supported by a wide bandwidth link to the new Digital Side Scan Transceiver deck unit.”
Is the S2094 VLS compatible?
Whats the military role of this ship? I understand it creates a map of the seabed but does this have direct military application?
The Hydrographic Squadron – or droggies – are one of the oldest branches of the RN – famous ships include James Cooks’ Endevour and Charles Darwin’s Beagle. Admiralty Charts have a global reputation and actually make the UK money, so they pay for themselves. The seabed changes all the time, currents cause sandbanks to move and depths to change, without up to date chartage our ships and submarines could easily run aground. This is especially important when remote or uncharted anchorages are to be used, or need their charts updating. The Navy has two multirole survey vessels now, one inshore… Read more »
yep knowledge of the sea bed, currents etc is a crucial enabler, it’s these unglamorous vessels that form part of the wider web of assets that separate the true blue water navy’s from the green and brown water navy’s ( even if some of the bigger green water navy’s have more escorts, the JMSDF as an example of a really potent green water navy).
Wasn’t one of them sent to Libya to evacuate Brits?
It’s interesting that they are warships and are often deployed as warships are. EG recently as part of a NATO force in the Black sea. It’s stating the obvious that they could only be of use in the ASW role of course but the Russians certainly seemed interested in them. Perhaps even concerned ? A wolf in sheeps clothing perhaps.
Ships could always have other roles less obvious. I’ve had my suspicions about certain RN/MoD vessels for years with no real evidence. Just common sense.
Of course. And the Echos are also capable of deep ocean survey too, unlike their predecessors, using offboard sonar gliders and ROVs. They can also take a peek at undersea cables and so on. I believe some T45s have extra Sigint equipment, as the Batch 3 Type 22s did before them.
Yes, T45 CESM includes Shaman. The centre for which is at Collingwood alongside the FIC.
I’d also like to see the RB2s fitted with Sigint capability. Again seems logical to me with them being forward deployed.
Yes – who knows maybe they have some?
No everything is/was boiler plate.
There always were, and I’m sure still are, Ship functions that are not advertised.
Things became a bit more open, maybe too open, post perestroika. Even then there were bits that were not discussed.
HMS Endurance before the Falklands conflict for example.
Interesting comments, not something i know anything about. Do people choose this career path, to crew one of these ships? if you had your heart set on a Destroyer/Frigate, it might be a let down?
The Hydrographic branch will serve on them as it’s their chosen profession, but the other branches is ME/WE/Comms and Logs etc will either volunteer to serve on them or be volunteered! Roll the dice and take a chance when it comes to your preference.
Thanks, for the comment and information. The RN trade branches and an individuals choice of where they serve is not something i have much knowledge about.
This boats have been in the water since 2002, when’s their OSD?
Not published yet according to Navy Lookout but probably somewhere between the late 2020s to the mid 2030s.
So our Russian friends seem to think this is a spy ship ..
I fear this story is a little premature given the official message is only an intent to place a contract not an actual contract award.