New technological materials covering the exterior can help Russian submarines become completely invisible to enemy sonar systems.
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| Izvestia quoted a source from the Russian Defense Ministry as saying that Russian submarines will be covered with unique piezoelectric ceramic antennas, which will allow them to receive, process and distort the signals of hydroacoustic radars of enemy submarines and warships. Photo source: TASS |
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| The latest product, developed by the Krylov Scientific Center and the Okeanpribor Ocean Instrument Corporation with the support of the Fund for Prospective Research (FPI), is a polymer membrane covering the entire submarine hull. These antennas will be used in the structure of both future submarines of the next generation and submarines currently in service with the Navy. Photo source: TASS |
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| A source in the Russian Defense Ministry familiar with the progress of the work told the Izvestia newspaper: “The work is at a high level of readiness and in the near future will begin testing individual components of the system. This involves the creation of a polymer membrane based on zirkonium (Zr), titanium (Ti) and lead (Pb) oxides. This membrane has the ability to absorb external radio signals and also to guide them. In fact, it is a layer of piezoelectric rubber that is applied to the submarine’s hull, making the entire hull an acoustic antenna.” Photo source: TASS |
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| According to the source, the Korsar project is funded by FPI. The Okeanpribor Corporation in Petersburg manufactures the coating antenna and sensors. The Krylov State Scientific Center integrates the piezoelectric ceramic coating on the exterior of future ships. The scientific research work is expected to be completed by the end of 2017. After that, the experimental design project will begin to apply the achieved scientific and technical results to specific topics for nuclear submarines. Photo source: TASS |
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| The principle of operation of the new system is quite simple: the coating control system analyzes and classifies the acoustic signal of the hydroacoustic radars that have reached the coating, distorts it and sends it back. The basis of the system is a unique piezoelectric ceramic, which can retain the acoustic signal and distort it. Photo source: TASS |
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| Piezoelectric ceramics are a class of highly permeable, poorly conductive materials with piezoelectric properties. The effect of this material is that when the piezoelectric material is mechanically deformed, charges of equal magnitude but opposite sign will appear on opposite sides. In household piezoelectric lighters, to obtain high voltage on the discharge poles, only finger movement is enough. As for hydroacoustic assemblies, the energy of sound vibrations will be converted into electrical energy. Image source: Waves |
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| Expert in the field of naval equipment Aleksandr Mozgovoi said that piezoelectric ceramic coatings are replacing passive anti-radar coatings made of rubber, which are currently used on the exterior of all multi-purpose and nuclear submarines. Photo source: Sputnik |
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| “Only now in the United States did they understand the advantages of this technology to reduce the acoustic detection of submarines, and, like us, they began to cover submarines with rubber,” Aleksandr Mozgovoi told the Izvestia newspaper. “The only drawback is its low reliability. After each mission, due to the influence of the external environment, the submarine loses part of its protective coating, and it has to be restored.” |
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| Aleksandr Mozgovoi commented: “The use of piezoelectric ceramics, more precisely, coatings made of piezoelectric ceramics, is the next step in the development of sound absorption technologies, and in this area Russian researchers once again surpass Western research….Photo source: ilgiornale |
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| …The main advantage is the ability to obtain a durable and durable coating, which can be integrated into its structure with antennas and sensors. The new anti-radar hydroacoustic material can be used not only for future submarines, but also for submarines already in service. For example, the strategic nuclear missile submarines of the project 667BDRM, the missile attack submarines of the project 949 and the multipurpose submarines of the project 971. To do this, it is enough to replace the hull coating with a new one and connect it to the ship's electronic systems during the repair period between seagoing trips." Photo source: UPI |
According to Kienthuc.com
