18Nov

The Navy tested a unique underwater communication system

Combat swimmers of the Navy special purpose unit together with engineers of IVA Technologies have successfully tested the IVA S/W unique mobile radio submarine communication complex in the Barents Sea. During the testing by a group of divers, a stable high-definition voice communication was established at a range of up to 2000 meters.

The first version of the mobile underwater wireless radio station was introduced in 2018. The principle of operation of the device, developed by the engineers of IVA Technologies, differs from the technologies that the hydroacoustic systems currently used by the Navy are based on. In the IVA S / W radio complex, technologies based on the principle of propagation of electromagnetic waves are used initially in tandem with the "traditional" hydroacoustic antenna  - this is a unique solution in the whole world. This principle is free from limitations inherent to hydroacoustic communication systems and does not depend on the hydrology of the propagation medium, the presence of suspended solids, algae, thermocline and other inhomogeneities, which is especially important if the station is used in contaminated water or among sonar noises (including in the maritime belt). The uniqueness of the device is also proven by the fact that it provides the connection of divers with the surface via the interface (air/water) without immersion of components in the aquatic environment (which is impossible with existing hydroacoustic stations), even if the interface is ice, which is very relevant for operation in the extreme north or in a pond covered with ice.

A new version of the mobile radio complex was tested in the Barents Sea water area. The upgraded device has improved range and quality of communication (including between environments), diving depth and is shaped for use with the most common full face diving masks and communication headsets. The radio complex itself is placed on the diver's aqualung and does not interfere with movement in water.

Tests in the Barents Sea water area were carried out at water temperature of only 6 degrees in the following conditions: "water-water", "air-water" and "water-air". During the tests, a group of divers established a stable high-definition voice connection in the water column at a depth of 26 meters and a range of up to 2000 meters, which is a kind of record, as none of the systems used by the Navy demonstrates such a range. In this way, the IVA S/W mobile radio system has repeatedly outperformed the wireless communication devices currently in use in many ways, including range and speech intelligibility.

«During the test of the modernized IVA S/W mobile radio complex its performance and quality of communication in real-life conditions were checked. Where there are submarine currents, there is a natural wavering of water, and there is a change in its temperature depending on the depth of the dive, - said Sergey Chernykh, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of HiTech. - Such factors can significantly affect the performance of the device, but this did not happen, and the complex we developed has successfully passed all the tests. In addition, it should be noted that the devices currently used for communication with divers, including in the Navy, have been developed over decades and are based on the known principles of hydroacoustics with all the ensuing shortcomings. Our radio complex was developed in less than three years and, according to the Navy divers, it is superior to their communication devices in terms of range and quality of communication. As a result, the personnel of the military unit, as well as representatives of the Northern Fleet Command, having assessed the results of tests, expressed their readiness to use the solution by IVA Technologies».

ORDER IVA S/W