Kalistan

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Kalistani Regular Navy Begins updating Sonar Network
New tactics in integration aim to provide multi platform system
Port Swedes, Duchy of Vrassa
February 12, 5630


Passive sonar buoys are loaded into NH-64 Helo on deck of the KRS 1364 AAS

The Kalistani Regular Navy has begun working to improve the Kalistani Sonar network in the Northern Anantonese following the Northern Lights Exercises this summer.  The mission is to create a multi-platform static subsurface surveillance network that leverages new onshore technology to create a more complete picture of what happens beneath the waves.

"The goal is to create a triangulation on every nautical mile from the Karzon Strait to the coasts of Dovani and Keris," said Regular Navy Spokesperson Lt. Helena Brevard. "With a combination of active and passive sonar, hydrophones, and high resolution imagry from air and satallite assets, we plan to create a full data picture that we can then feed both to in-theater assets and to a new war computing platform that the Ministry of Defense is developing with KMD that uses machine learning and new probability algorithms to enhance our anti-submarine warfighting capabilities."

According to Brevard, the goal is to lock down the access points in the approaches to Ananto and Kalistan. "Kalistan has long practiced defense in depth that leans heavily on the navy," said Lt. Brevard. "Part of that strategic doctrine involves knowing where potential enemies are, and being able to predict where they are going and how soon they get there, even if our sub hunters do not cross our paths. Having immediate information that also allows for forecasting will help us put our own assets where they need to be to intercept incoming targets with greater accuracy before they can pose a threat to Kalistani ports."

The approach, according to Lt. Brevard, is that the Empire will deploy active sonar buoys that will send out a regular electronic ping at specific frequencies. The ping will contain information about the location and depth of each sonar buoy. That ping will be recorded by multiple passive sonar devices that will also be able to note what Brevard referred to as "shadows" in the water. The shadow data will also be compared to echo location from the pings to be able to differentiate between subs and biologicals. Underwater hydrophones will also capture information from faint mechanical sources under the waves.

"All this data will be transmitted electronically to computers on board submarines in the First Fleet, as well as computing centers in Vrassa and Ananto, which will process the data using AI machine learning and probability algorithms to give us a complete picture of what is happening under the surface. As the approach to Kalistan from the Karzon Strait is about 15 hours at cruising speed for most subs, we will have plenty of time to analyze and key in on data that show anomalies under the water. Not only will the targeting centers on land get the data, but they will be able to get it to ships in the fleet quickly, in a sort of naval dispatch process."

The network builds on existing sonar networks that exist in the region. The aim is to address some of the deficiencies noted during the "Northern Lights" naval exercises last summer. The active sonar buoys will take about 6 months to fully deploy, and the passive sonar and hydrophone net will take a bit longer to deploy, given the need to mount the listening devices to the floor of the ocean. "We plan on using submersibles and atmospheric pressure suits to allow naval engineers to work at the depths of the ocean floor, but establishing this permanent network, along with laying the cable for comms from the hydrophones will take a couple years in total." The Navy did not disclose a cost for the program.

@TheRepublic