Saab unveils SMART MCM

David Donald

Tuesday, 8 September, 2009

Today sees the full launch of Saab’s SMART mine countermeasures solution, following a preview at the Underwater Defence Technology conference at Cannes in June. The SMART – Safe, Modular, Autonomous, Remote-controlled Technology – mine countermeasures system is, in effect, a toolbox of modules that can be configured to answer a wide range of MCM needs, both in the civil and military worlds.

Development of SMART MCM was partly driven to answer a need for increased protection of commercial sea lanes and ports. In Europe, in particular, the threat of maritime terrorism is being taken very seriously. The effect of a single sea mine, or even a simple improvised maritime device, would be to shut down vital ports or sea lanes for days, with enormous economic implications.

At the same time, SMART MCM offers greater flexibility and cost reductions for military operations, such as preparation for amphibious landings and post-conflict clear-up, by the greater use of autonomy and remote control.

At the heart of SMART MCM is the SMART Core software platform, with a number of functional modules that can be integrated into the system. Configurations can range from a baseline land-based mine warfare data centre, through to full-scale mine warfare C3I systems. Operators work in a GIS-based environment equipped with a variety of functions to manage operational and environmental data.

The data is managed in a shared data storage system that implements the Joint C3 Information Exchange Data Model (JC3IEDM) as defined by NATO’s Multilateral Interoperability Programme (MIP – STANAG 5525). Not only is SMART MCM fully NATO-interoperable, it also fits seamlessly with existing systems.

SMART uses autonomy and remote control to greatly reduce the number of personnel required to operate a mine-sweeping/hunting system, and to greatly reduce exposure to the dangers of mines. Multi-purpose vessels with low acoustic and magnetic signatures can be used as either drones or parent platforms, depending on the situation requirements. Mine-hunting is performed using a towed side-scan sonar. With this equipment, the crew can remotely detect and classify mine-like objects.
Those that are deemed worthy of closer inspection can be positively identified and disposed of using unmanned underwater vehicles.

For mine-sweeping, SMART employs a towed combined influence array. This can be tailored to emulate the magnetic, electric and acoustic signatures of a range of vessels, from small degaussed naval vessels to larger commercial vessels. Employing drones for this task enables operators to control the system from the safety of the parent platform, whether it is land- or ship-based.

Remote control of drones is performed using TCP/IP based radio links. These provide control of the unmanned vessels, and sensor data exchange. A parent platform can control up to four drones simultaneously to allow a wide coverage, and multiple parents can operate in the same area.
Saab can be found on stand 435.

Up to four drone vessels can be remotely controlled by a single parent platform, where the SMART MCM operator is based