LF: Saab unveils superstealth 'ghost submarine' that is virtually invisible to enemies and even allows divers to silently enter and exit

Title: Saab unveils superstealth 'ghost submarine' that is virtually invisible to enemies and even allows divers to silently enter and exit
Source: Daily Mail Online
URL Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet ... ivers-silently-enter-exit.html
Published: Jul 2, 2015
Author: Mark Prigg
Post Date: 2015-07-03 10:08:44 by cranky
Keywords: None
Views: 1878
Comments: 9

Saab has unveiled what it claims is the world's most advanced stealth submarine.

The A26 sub is 207 feet long, and features a 'ghost mode' to make it virtually undetectable when underwater.

It also features a unique pod that allows special forces divers to enter and exit the sub while it is underwater.

STEALTH SUB SPECS

Type A26 submarines are nearly 207 feet in length, 21 feet in the beam.

The have an endurance of 45 days or 18 days underwater.

They have a test depth of about 658 feet.

They will be conventional diesel-electric submarines equipped with the Kockums Stirling AIP (air-independent propulsion) system for enhanced stealth.

The firm has already signed a $1 billion deal to build two of the new submarines for the Swedish Navy.

'Sweden is unleashing its GHOST (Genuine HOlistic STealth) technology, thus making the Kockums A26 submarine effectively invisible.'

The order, with a value of about $1.04 billion, is for construction of two Type A26 submarines and conducting mid-life upgrades to two Gotland-class submarines.

Type A26 submarines are nearly 207 feet in length, 21 feet in the beam and have an endurance of 45 days or 18 days underwater.

They will be conventional diesel-electric submarines equipped with the Kockums Stirling AIP (air-independent propulsion) system for enhanced stealth.

'Sweden has long experience in designing very silent submarines,' the firm says.

'In the Kockums A26 submarine, an extremely resilient platform technique incorporating extensive rubber mountings and baffles is used to minimise noise from operating machines and transient noise, as well as absorbing shocks.

To further reduce emitted noise, the space between the frames is equipped with acoustic damping plates.

'Intelligence gathering, surveillance and sea denial along coastlines are becoming increasingly important, ' Saab said.

'Operations in shallow water enable submarines to carry out covert monitoring of targets on land or sea using a range of electro-optical and electromagnetic sensors.

'Moreover, the ability of a submarine to lie motionless on the ocean floor, or 'bottom out', makes it almost impossible to find.'

HOW GHOST MODE WORKS

Extreme stealth is at the heart of the Kockums A26 submarine, and it depends on good design right from the very beginning, Saab claims.

'Sweden has long experience in designing very silent submarines,' it says.

Saab's A26 design includes a Multi-mission Portal flexible payload capability with a lock system in addition to its conventional torpedo tubes.

To further reduce emitted noise, the space between the frames is equipped with acoustic damping plates.

This approach is used in combination with, for example, encapsulated Stirling and diesel engine modules; flexible hoses and compensators; and specifying maximum flow speed in air ducts, minimum bending radius on cables and pipes, and the design of out-board holes and cavities.

To become invisible, further ways of keeping silent are exploited by the Kockums A26 submarine:

The target strength of the Kockums A26 submarine is minimal because of the vessel's unique hull shape, the unique fin design, sonar and equipment accommodation, and a new type of surface acoustic absorption or reflection coatings.

The lock system makes it easy for commandos to enter and exit the boat, and is large enough to allow the launch and retrieval of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles.

This highly optimised design also cuts the hydrodynamic signatures and flow noise around the submarine, both in deep water and near the surface.

The magnetic signature is suppressed by an advanced degaussing system that is controlled by external sensors to facilitate compensation in all geographical locations and headings.

Galvanic signatures, primarily electrical but including secondary magnetic signatures are reduced by a specially designed cathodic protection system and careful material selection that minimise electrical signatures without compromising the corrosion protection of the submarine.

The two vessels will be delivered to Sweden's Defense Materiel Organization in late 2018 and late 2019, respectively.

'Saab will deliver world-class submarines to Sweden,' said Hakan Buskhe, president and chief executive officer of Saab. 'Our ability to work closely with customers, to meet their needs with modern manufacturing and products, is one of Saab's greatest skills.

'Saab is also exploring export opportunities to provide complete submarine systems to a select number of countries, plus sub-systems across the wider market.'

Added Gunilla Fransson, head of Saab's Security and Defense Solutions business area: 'The A26 will be a unique and high-tech submarine with proven modular design, which gives the platform a high level of availability at a low life-cycle cost.

'The submarine will have long-endurance submerged performance and excellent maneuverability in all waters.

'Safety is paramount and A26 will be highly survivable thanks to modern underwater stealth technology and a unique heritage of shock resistant design.' (7 images)

Why aren't there any firms getting $Billion deals to teach people to feed themselves?

The percentage where these subs were designed to operate,the shallow waters off the Baltic Sea.

Why is democracy held in such high esteem when itâ€™s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)

I think it's interesting that Comrade Chairman and Mrs. Community Organizer haven't picked up on the fact that Aquaponics is revolutionizing food production... but then again maybe that's not the kind of revolution they've been indoctrinated to have in their cult-ured mind.

Let's be honest. Neither of those human drones have ever picked up on any fact. They are just programmed to spout whatever nonsense they are told to spout.

Take away Affirmative Action,the white guilt vote and the black racist vote,and he is an assistant manager at a Chicago Mickey D's,and she is a cashier at a Dollar Store.

Why is democracy held in such high esteem when itâ€™s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)

I think they both may have the intellectual ability to hold down those jobs,but I strongly suspect they are both too lazy to do any actual work. After all,thanks to AA "no show" jobs and "no show" college classes they have never had to do any actual work,and they are sleeping in the white house.

Why is democracy held in such high esteem when itâ€™s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)

And they are supported by millions like themselves. The triumph of the proletariat has ultimately become the dictatorship by dumbkophs, ...a huge subculture of parasites who instantaneously recognise and glamorize each other.