Forcys discusses its role in integrating navigation and forward-looking sonar technologies for SubSea Craft’s VICTA surface-to-subsea maritime delivery platform, alongside Covelya Group technology partners Sonardyne and Wavefront Systems. Read more >>
SubSea Craft’s VICTA is a multi-domain maritime delivery platform designed to conduct a range of discrete military operations. It is capable of high-speed surface transit before rapidly transitioning to subsurface mode for the covert delivery of divers and equipment. The platform can be deployed as an individual asset or as a force multiplier, and supports networked, crewed, and autonomous modes of operation.
During VICTA’s development, SubSea Craft identified the requirement for a navigation system and a forward-looking sonar to enable safe operation in congested and poorly charted environments, while also providing an additional Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) effect.
Both technologies needed to withstand shock and vibration from high-speed surface transit, as well as pressure changes associated with subsea operation. Compact form factor and clear, easy-to-interpret presentation of mission-critical navigation data were also essential.
Forcys worked with Sonardyne and Wavefront Systems to deliver an integrated solution combining Sonardyne’s SPRINT-Nav 300 and Wavefront Systems’ Vigilant FLS 1500.
SPRINT-Nav 300 integrates a SPRINT Inertial Navigation System (INS), Syrinx Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) and high-accuracy intelligent pressure sensor within a single housing, providing accurate navigation for both surface and subsea operations. The system can withstand associated pressure changes, requires no gyro calibration maneuvers at start-up, and minimizes space and integration burden.
The Vigilant FLS 1500 long-range, forward-looking sonar provides real-time navigation and obstacle avoidance, detecting objects in the water column at ranges of up to 1.5 km and generating high-resolution 3D terrain maps of the seabed and water column ahead to 600 m. The sonar can also be integrated into autonomous platforms to support command-and-control systems and enhance safety for both manned and unmanned operations.
Forcys supported the integration of these systems onto VICTA, ensuring reliable interoperability with other onboard technologies and maintaining system performance across complex and safety-critical architectures. Sea trials of VICTA are continuing as SubSea Craft further develops the platform to meet the requirements of increasingly autonomous defense operations.
To find out more information, read ‘Navigating the surface to subsea battle space‘ here >>
