RAN select Shark Marine for divers

Shark Marine Technologies Inc. has been awarded the Underwater Navigation Integrated Sonar Units (UNIS) contract for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

The UNIS contract is for 34 systems with spares and dedicated training packages with delivery of the systems to begin in June 2012.

The UNIS units provide the RAN divers with the latest technology to conduct underwater navigation, object identification and beach reconnaissance duties.

UNIS will be based on the Shark Marine divers sonar unit, the Navigator.

The Navigator has been employed by some of the world’s leading military Reconnaissance Teams and Navy Clearance Divers.

The Navigator provides customers with the ability to conduct clandestine underwater navigation, beach reconnaissance and object identification (Explosive Ordnance Reconnaissance (EOR)) within the Very Shallow Water (VSW), Surf Zone (SZ) and deep water of the littoral to 100 metres.

The Navigator contributes to the success of Mine Countermeasure (MCM) duties and amphibious operations by aiding the operator’s ability to ensure the sea way is clear of ordnance, obstacles and the beach gradients are suitable for landing craft usage.

To assist with larger area surveys the Navigator can be configured to be operated from small craft.

This enables the expansion of area surveys around landing beaches to be conducted or to survey the path for the passage of major warships.

The object identification capabilities of the Navigator also enables support to be provided to homeland security by aiding object identification searches within ports, docks and ship hulls as well as assisting civilian authorities with specific underwater searches for objects, missing persons or hazards.

Shark Marine Technologies has worked closely with the world military forces to design hardware and software to meet the requirements of front line operators.