Moscow-Based Research Institute Designed a Sonar Looking Lower Transition Layer

Sonar Don is designed for seabed mapping, search operations and identification of navigation hazards.


According to Anatoly Sknar, the Don’s lead designer, the system can work in the conditions where most of other sonars operate incorrect.

"In a water body, there’s a layer where density differs from the higher and lower layers due to the temperature drop. There, in the transition layer, acoustic waves refract, and many sonars take the echo signals as if they’ve reflected from the seabed", explained the expert. "Don operates in deep waters and is not exposed to the shielding effect".

The system was designed proactively, under the import substitution program. The sonars for such depths are not imported in Russia due to the Western sanctions.
In addition, Anatoly Sknar told Mil.Press Today that the research institute had faced the same problem as Oceanpribor. After the bankruptcy of Pskovgeokabel, the designers had to search for a new supplier of towage cable system. As for the Don’s lead designer, currently the institute uses the products of Podolskkabel.

The Ninth International Maritime Defense Show (IMDS-2019) took place in Saint Petersburg in July 10-14. In the first three days, from July 10 to July 14, the exhibition was open for experts and international guests; in July 13-14 it welcomed wide public.

Mil.Press publishes news, overviews of the novelties and business events of the show in the thematic section IMDS.

Valery Butymov

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