SHAH ALAM: With the launch of the first LCS set for Aug. 24, more stuff are now being or have been delivered for the ships of the class. The latest is the underwater monitoring device, which forms part of the ship’s surveillance system.

The surveillance system is called NIDAR by its manufacturer MARSS, a Europe based company, which described it as

an advanced long range surveillance system protecting naval vessels and land-based defence installations from air, surface and underwater approaches.

As part of the NIDAR system, the Sonardyne Sentinel IDS diver and subsurface detection equipment is also installed.

The release from Sonardyne.

Sonardyne has supplied its diver detection sonar technology, Sentinel, for a fleet of offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) under construction in the Far East.

Two ship-fit Sentinels have now been tested and delivered with more to follow, as part of a wider contract to equip each OPV with a fully integrated force-protection capability.

Working with MARSS Group’s NiDAR long range maritime surveillance system, the Sentinels will provide complete underwater domain awareness by detecting unauthorised divers and subsurface vehicles approaching the OPVs and the assets they protect.

Sentinel detects, tracks and classifies underwater threats at up to 1,200 metres range For this contract, the Sentinel sonar heads will be deployed from the OPVs using through-hull technology developed by MARSS. Controlled and monitored by Nidar, the sonars can be lowered automatically to establish an instant, 360 degree monitored zone around large naval ships at anchor, or the entry to a port or harbour.

MARSS first announced the NIDAR contract back in 2015.

The multihull contract, with delivery expected from 2015 to 2022, will include the design, integration, delivery, installation and commissioning of the patented NiDAR™ 360˚ surface and underwater anti intruder security system to protect the Royal Malaysian Navy’s Second Generation Patrol Vessel Littoral Combat Ship fleet (LCS).

“MARSS established a strong working partnership with the Royal Malaysian Navy and Boustead Naval Shipyard to design and deliver a comprehensive world class vessel security system that redefines what can be achieved for maritime domain awareness leveraging Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) equipment,“ said Rob Balloch, SVP of MARSS Group, adding “MARSS is establishing an engineering presence in Malaysia to support our customers as they implement force protection technologies across their assets.”

NiDAR™ delivers enhanced situational awareness and increased reaction time by integrating multiple sensor and data feeds to generate a long range 360 degree perimeter security shield around a vessel. Operating autonomously 24 hours a day NiDAR monitors, detects, tracks classifies and alerts decision makers to multiple air, surface and underwater threats in the vicinity of a vessel. This provides vessels with the most complete security picture supporting correct decision making and enabling an effective response in critical situations.

As maritime surveillance system is part of the overall LCS self protection system it has not figured in any RMN’s announcement so far.

The LCS is likely the first RMN ship to be fitted with such a system with the Kota Kinabalu naval base becoming the first shore station to be equip with a comprehensive self protection system.

— Malaysian Defence

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