Comms at Speed & Depth
Off-Board Submarine Communications Systems
- Communications at Speed and Depth
- RTOF and ETOF Communications Buoys
- Military and Commercial SATCOM, and LOS
- Multi-Static Active Systems
- Electro-optic, Navigation and EW Payloads
The RTOF Bouy
Gateway Bouy
Integration of technologies to provide connectivity between the below and above water environments
Underwater WiFi
Integration of deployable sensor, acoustic communications and distributed processing technologies
“Ultra has the capability to offer potential solutions to all six of the technology requirements of the Communications at Speed and Depth programme.”
Information Exchange
Based on many years’ experience in the development of submarine communication solutions, Ultra is applying the wealth of its expertise to a radical new communications enabler known as the Recoverable Tethered Optical Fibre (RTOF) system. RTOF allows a submarine communication payload to be deployed to the surface without impinging on the host submarine’s ability to maintain speed and depth. Moreover, because it leaves no wake or plume during deployment, operation or recovery this allows the submarine to remain undetected throughout. Ultra’s solution consists of a highly buoyant communicator connected to the submarine by a neutrally buoyant fibre-optic cable that also acts as a tether. Extensive hydrodynamic modelling allowed us to design a buoy and a winch control algorithm that allows for quick and easy recovery once communication has ended. RTOF can be tailored as the customer requires.
Currently two versions are available, the 450 mm diameter RTOF Classic and the smaller, 250 mm diameter, RTOF Lite. Core payloads include VHF/UHF line of sight communications, electronic warfare warner, bathythermal sensors and GPS L1 and L2 bands. Other mission payloads options include UHF, SHF and commercial satellite communications and above-water sensors. By integrating the UHF antenna into the dome of the buoy, many of the key hydrodynamic challenges have been overcome.
Furthermore, RTOF can be stored and deployed by various means as required by the individual submarine; for example, it can be mounted in a dedicated bay, fitted as a pod on the boat’s fin, fitted in a lightweight pod on a rudder or stabiliser to minimise platform top-weight, or configured to be fitted to mast raising equipment. We are developing RTOF in partnership with QinetiQ and Strachan & Henshaw as part of a 2 year UK/US Technology Demonstrator Programme (TDP). Providing genuine Network Enabled Capability, it is seen as a keystone to realising the Royal Navy's Effective Task Force Communication vision and the US Navy's Communications at Speed and Depth programme. RTOF technology has already been successfully demonstrated off Portland, UK and is to be followed by extended trials aboard a US Navy submarine.
Ultra’s pedigree in submarine communication market is evidenced by our ability to offer potential solutions to all six of the technology requirements of the Communications at Speed and Depth programme. This includes various tethered and expendable communication buoys, and a new submarine paging system which again demonstrates our ability to leverage core skills in acoustics technology.