BY : portsmouth



The results of a £300m contract to supply a state-of-the-art tracker to the Royal Navy have now been unveiled.
The navy's newly-updated Seawolf system was put through a dry run at the Qinetiq-owned Fraser test site, Eastney, as it tracked a target across the Solent.
During the demonstration, the giant, one-ton tracker swivelled from position to position in an instant, panning, rotating and dipping as its target, a Cessna light aircraft, soared across the sea.
The missile tracking system, built by BAE Systems, is one of the Royal Navy's most critical lines of defence, essential for defending the fleet from missile attacks.
Undergoing one of its first public demonstrations, the newly-fitted system is the culmination of a seven-year project to upgrade the fleet's existing technology. Thanks to work at BAE System's Broad Oak workshop, Hilsea – as well at sites in Chelmsford, Essex, and Frimley, Hampshire – the missile tracker has doubled its tracking range to 15 miles and is now so sensitive it can track a cricket ball-sized object moving at Mach II.
Captain Brian Archibald, joint integrated project team leader, said: 'The Seawolf as a system has improved enormously, and this is a major leap forward in technology terms.
'It's been a long time coming, but the Royal Navy needs it. The threat is still evolving. Seawolf was originally designed for use against anti-ship missiles, and since their technology hasn't stood still, neither can we.'
The old Seawolf system is based around two radars, whereas the new system also has three sensors, including a thermal imaging device, giving a 'fused' picture of any incoming threat.
Previously, poor weather and sea conditions could inhibit its use.
Even very good conditions could lower the accuracy of the system, with reflections of a target on the sea surface cluttering the Seawolf's radar.
But Cpt Archibald said the new system vastly reduced the capacity for error, including human mistakes.
He said: 'If this were a real scenario, we would have an anti-ship missile coming directly towards us at twice the speed of sound. You would never see anything at all.
'This system is designed to react as soon as it perceives a potential threat. It's designed so that there is 20 seconds between initially picking up a signal to intercepting it.
'Within that timeline, you would generally want human input out of the decision-making plan.'
More than 300 people have been working on the project since BAE Systems signed its contract with the Royal Navy in 2000, as well as 30 manfacturing staff.
John Fearon, BAE joint Integrated Project Team Leader, said 'Seawolf has been in operation since 1979. It's gone through various updates over the years, but it was realised it needed a major update to deal with the emerging threat.
'Effectively the only thing that has remained the same is the base platform. We've now got a new suite of sensors and a significant software update. It looks very similar to before, and in fact it does perform the same tasks – but to a much, much higher level of performance.'