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SAES has been awarded a contract for the modernization of the S-70 tactical submarine simulator (SATS) of the Spanish Navy, with the aim of lengthening the SATS’ lifetime for five more years.
Operational since 1991, the Spanish Navy use the SATS for training crews in resolving tactical problems that could occur during the submarine navigation, as it includes all elements and systems of the control room as well as the instructor station. SAES simulators for submarine training have been designed to accurately reproduce the scenarios, equipment, aspects, operation and sensations that the submarine’s equipment would have in a real situation.
“The latest acceptance tests within the SATS modernization project (including its instructor station, control room, DLT and DSUV-22) were successfully carried out by the end of 2021 at the Submarine Base, in the presence of the RAC (Spanish Navy quality assurance official),” said Víctor Azcárate, Post-sales Line Manager and responsible for the SATS maintenance service. “The importance of the modernization of this system lies in that it allows the Spanish Navy to continue using the SATS to train crews while there is still any S-70 class submarines in operation, as they will soon be replaced by the S-80 class submarines.”
SAES has been in charge of maintenance of the SATS since its delivery in 1991. Over the years and due to the age of the equipment, it was becoming increasingly more difficult to find spare parts (power source, motherboard, memories, hard disks, etc.) for equipment repairs. In addition to this, the lifespan of the S-70 submarines has been extended: the Spanish Navy plans to retire them between the year 2025 and 2030. Therefore SAES considered it necessary to modernize the SATS to ensure the operational nature of the simulator at least until 2030.
“I am very proud of the work performed by the team: SATS was my very first project at SAES and I have seen it grow and modernize, and it is not an easy task to successfully adapt such old systems,” said Consuelo Lázaro, director of Operations at SAES.
SAES General Manager, Victoria Ruiz, added, “The modernization of the S-70 tactical submarine simulator (developed by SAES 31 years ago) is a significant milestone for us, as we continue to assist and support the major programs of the Spanish Navy.”
