Abstract:

The presentation will address the status of the FFI's (NDRE) program in mine counter measure research (MCM) and the involvement of acoustic methods, equipment, and results, therein. Assessing and countering the threat of sea mines targeting surface and sub-surface vessels are strongly dependent on the signature characteristics of the vessels and the environment of the mine--ship engagement situation. Similar considerations also apply in assessing the safety of naval vessels entering or operating in a potentially mined area. Since radiated acoustic energy and the associated seismic waves are commonly used for sea-mine actuation functions, assessment of signature characterization (acoustic), the propagation characteristics of the environment, and the noise of littoral waters constitute major research and investigation tasks at FFI. The results are contributing to advances in improving the operation capabilities of the MCM force of the Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN). The presentation will briefly outline the objectives of our research and the programs where the acoustic methods and equipment are involved. A summary of the results and current status will also be presented. Here, emphasis on the experiments of short-range measurements in support of 3-D modeling validation and modeling results will be given.