FFI-FACTS
����������������������������������������
The Norwegian minesweeper KNM Alta
embarks upon a NATO mission with a
revolutionary new minesweeping
technology on board.
Outwitting modern sea mines
The future. The next step in the battle against sea mines could be unmanned, remote
controlled minesweeper-drones on the surface. (Photo: Morten Nakjem, FFI)
Maintaining focus leads to success
Størkersen points to the Navy’s goal
of achieving an operational counter to
modern mines. The partnership between
the Navy, FFI and Kongsberg Defence
& Aerospace was fostered by a very
concrete need. It was a project with the
potential of placing Norway firmly on the
NATO map. Simultaneously it was also
recognised that the project would be a
difficult one with a long lead-time. The
breakthrough came after ten years. And
this was only one milestone among many.
P.O.Box 25
•
Battle Griffin and Loyal Mariner during the
winter and spring of 2005 to demonstrate
just how good this new equipment really
is, says Lieutenant Commander Pål
Skorge, commander of the minesweeper
KNM Alta.
is now starting to pay off. Kongsberg
Defence & Aerospace, the Royal
Norwegian Navy’s Commander Norwegian
Fleet COMNOFLEET (Kysteskadren) and
FFI collaborated for 10 years for this
achievement.
–This new technology really reduces the
lead of modern mines. No other country,
neither in NATO nor outside the alliance,
has come up with anything like it. We look
forward to participating in the exercises
The new minesweeping technology is a
textbook example of what Norwegian
naval inventiveness can produce when
people pull in the same direction. The new
technology is a result of hard work, which
The race and the challenges
The collaboration between the three is an
ongoing one that will continue till 2008.
–As a supplier to the project we
emphasise trying out new results and
making them operational as soon as we
have them. In that way there is always a
close, ongoing co-operation between the
customer and the suppliers. Consequently
one can ensure that the customer is
satisfied with the milestones attained on
the way to the final goal, says Størkersen.
–The Armed Forces as an organisation
is highly oriented towards action and
achieving results. This means working
in complement with one’s collaboration
partners and capitalising on the present
possibilities. We maintain our focus in
the project through working in teams to
NO-2027 Kjeller
•
Instituttveien 20
•
NO-2007 Kjeller
keep the ultimate goal uppermost in our
thoughts, concludes Størkersen.
The breakthrough bodes well for the
further development of the project as the
three parties continue to work on new
minesweeping methodology.
•
Telephone +47 63 80 70 00
•
www.ffi.no
There is a constant race of technology
between mines and minesweeping
equipment under water. Today’s sea mines
are considerably more intelligent than
earlier versions. Modern mines do not
explode purely on contact with a vessel,
but are laid on the seafloor and are
triggered by a given vessel’s signature
(specific magnetic and acoustic signals
that are characteristic of certain ships).
In this way, mines can be employed with
great lethality against ships.
–The propeller of a larger ship radiates
a powerful low-frequency sound. Modern
mines utilise highly sophisticated
technology, which can be fine-tuned to
identify different kinds of ships from the
sound generated by their propellers. Until
now the mine-manufacturers have been
ahead, says Ole Refsahl at Kongsberg
Defence & Aerospace.
Research Director. Nils Størkersen is
a director of research at FFI and has
worked both on the AGATE and the HUGIN
projects. (Photo: Bjørn Fremstad, FFI)
January 2005 Design/production FFI
–Our success as a collaboration
in the effort to develop a new
sweeping capacity against
influence mines may be attributed
to an unswerving focus on the
goal, comments FFI Director of
Research Nils Størkersen.
This sensational, new development
is the product of a close
collaboration between the
Royal Norwegian Navy and the
Norwegian Defence Research
Establishment (FFI).
Many defence suppliers have tried to
reproduce this low frequency sound with
«AGATE» against mines. AGATE is the name of the newly developed minesweeping
equipment. (Photo: Morten Nakjem, FFI)
����������������������������������������
Ship’s Commander. Lieutenant Commander Pål Skorge, commander
of the Norwegian minesweeper KNM Alta. (Photo: Vidar Hope, Royal
Norwegian Navy)
under water loudspeakers. However, this
approach proved unsatisfactory, as the
loudspeakers were unable to recreate the
frequency distributions and the power of
propeller-noise in water.
–The new acoustic technology on our
minesweepers is called AGATE (Air Guns
and Transducer Equipment). We found the
key to AGATE in exploration equipment
developed for the oil industry. In
underwater seismology, air guns generate
under water bubbles (explosions) that
radiates sound. The reflected sound from
the seafloor is then analysed to give an
indication whether or not there is any oil
there, Refsahl explains.
–Through the use of batteries of smaller
air guns, we found that we could recreate
the propeller-sound of different kinds of
ships. Producing such signature with
our sweeping gear will induce the mines
to explode, thus reducing the risk for a
vessel’s passage later on. Prior to AGATE,
minesweeping-vessels remained ineffective
against the “smart mines”. Now we are on
a par with them again, says Refsahl who
naturally hopes that the product will also
prove to be a commercial success.
Insufficient capacity
This breakthrough in new minesweeping
technology is very good news. It is a form
of military equipment that thwarts attacks
Project Manager. Morten Nakjem heads the minesweeping project at
FFI. (Photo: Vidar Hope, Royal Norwegian Navy)
on people and ships and can save lives.
Furthermore, the new equipment used
in conjunction with other techniques may
be readily applied in situations where sea
mines are used as a means of terror, such
as asymmetric threats against harbours
or other marine installations.
–No other country in the world has
anything like it. The AGATE minesweeping
technology represents a milestone, both
for NATO and Norway. NATO has been
long lacking sufficient minesweeping
capabilities against sea mines, and this
new Norwegian contribution is a big step
towards closing the gap. The response
has been very positive, and we have
received numerous compliments – the
results are really noticeable, says Captain
(N) Geir Flage, commander of the Royal
Norwegian Navy’s Mine Warfare Flotilla.
–All honours to FFI for the breakthrough,
Flage adds. –We have been partners
in a unique collaboration that has been
characterised by the good dialogue that
is so necessary for making progress.
FFI is on the cutting edge in a number of
different fields.
FFI project manager Morten Nakjem is
quick to return the praise.
–It is the Royal Norwegian Navy who
is the user. Without the Navy’s input,
we could not have pulled this off. They
The race. New minesweeping equipment cuts down the lead of modern mines. Shown here: testing the equipment on board KNM Alta outside Bergen. (Photo: Morten Nakjem, FFI)
know all about strategy and warfare.
Other important pieces of the puzzle fell
into place through the input of project
colleagues at Kongsberg Defence &
Aerospace, says Nakjem.
The next step in the battle against
naval mines could be unmanned, remote
controlled minesweeper-drones on the
surface. Among the goals NATO aims
to achieve by 2015 is the elimination of
risks to crewmembers serving on board
minesweeping vessels.
The parties mentioned in this article have
also collaborated on the development
of so-called “autonomous underwater
vehicle” (AUV) for the purpose of localising
sea mines. The Royal Norwegian Navy
operates the AUV HUGIN from the minehunter ship KNM Karmøy. HUGIN is
currently doing service in NATO’s standing
Mine Countermeasure Force Northern
Europe, MCMFORNORTH. Also in this
field Norway has taken a leading role,
designing and developing equipment that
saves lives. In other words, scientists
participating in the race against mines
have meaningful work ahead of them.
Working in conjunction with the Royal
Norwegian Navy, FFI scientists are
dedicated to maintaining FFI’s position as
a world leader in clearing mines at sea.
In charge for NATO
Norway has been in charge of one of NATO’s two minesweeping forces since May 2004, and will continue in
this position until May 2005. Captain (N) Per Kartvedt
of the Royal Norwegian Navy is the chief officer for
MCMFORNORTH.
The mission of NATO’s minesweeping force is to “demonstrate naval
presence and solidarity in the alliance, and to be a rapid deployment
force for the supreme commander in Europe”. The Norwegian
command-ship, KNM Vidar and the minesweeper KNM Alta are
participating in this force; the KNM Alta joined this fleet from mid
January 2005. The crews of the two vessels have also declared
themselves willing to participate in international peacekeeping
operations. The risks represented by sea mines are more imminent
in the new threat scenario of international terrorism. Mines are
among the greatest threats to civilian and military shipping.
The Norwegian minesweepers carry a crew of 40 men. The vessels
are 55 meters long and 13.5 meters wide. They are constructed
as a hovercraft catamaran, which lies only 0.9 meters in the water
amidships. With a top speed of 22 knots, the Norwegian vessels
are the world’s fastest minesweepers. The new equipment for
sweeping modern mines is the icing on the cake for the Norwegian
navy, which has gradually worked its way up to become one of the
world’s most modern fleets.
–We have run the new minesweeping technology through exhaustive
tests in an area outside Bergen planted with mine sensors. The
equipment has worked extremely well, and we are very proud to be
able to contribute in this way, Lieutenant Commander Pål Skorge
says.
He also reports that conditions on board a minesweeper are very
different to other military vessels.
–When we are on active duty, all unnecessary magnetic
materials such as electric razors and televisions must
be removed. All hazards must be eliminated that might
cause our own vessel to trigger the mines, Skorge adds.
At first glance a minesweeper would seem the last place
one would want to be in a conflict situation. Nevertheless
it is an important job. Those who serve on board must
have an unblemished record.
Better equipped for clearing sea mines. The minesweeper KNM Alta sails with
breakthrough minesweeping equipment on board. (Photo: Morten Nakjem, FFI)
–On the bright side, the situation is completely under
control when we go in to sweep. Other forces secure the
area from other threats before we go in, says Skorge,
who looks forward to demonstrate the capabilities of the
Norwegian minesweepers and their new technology in
the NATO force MCMFORNORTH.
FFI-FACTS
����������������������������������������
The Norwegian minesweeper KNM Alta
embarks upon a NATO mission with a
revolutionary new minesweeping
technology on board.
Outwitting modern sea mines
The future. The next step in the battle against sea mines could be unmanned, remote
controlled minesweeper-drones on the surface. (Photo: Morten Nakjem, FFI)
Maintaining focus leads to success
Størkersen points to the Navy’s goal
of achieving an operational counter to
modern mines. The partnership between
the Navy, FFI and Kongsberg Defence
& Aerospace was fostered by a very
concrete need. It was a project with the
potential of placing Norway firmly on the
NATO map. Simultaneously it was also
recognised that the project would be a
difficult one with a long lead-time. The
breakthrough came after ten years. And
this was only one milestone among many.
P.O.Box 25
•
Battle Griffin and Loyal Mariner during the
winter and spring of 2005 to demonstrate
just how good this new equipment really
is, says Lieutenant Commander Pål
Skorge, commander of the minesweeper
KNM Alta.
is now starting to pay off. Kongsberg
Defence & Aerospace, the Royal
Norwegian Navy’s Commander Norwegian
Fleet COMNOFLEET (Kysteskadren) and
FFI collaborated for 10 years for this
achievement.
–This new technology really reduces the
lead of modern mines. No other country,
neither in NATO nor outside the alliance,
has come up with anything like it. We look
forward to participating in the exercises
The new minesweeping technology is a
textbook example of what Norwegian
naval inventiveness can produce when
people pull in the same direction. The new
technology is a result of hard work, which
The race and the challenges
The collaboration between the three is an
ongoing one that will continue till 2008.
–As a supplier to the project we
emphasise trying out new results and
making them operational as soon as we
have them. In that way there is always a
close, ongoing co-operation between the
customer and the suppliers. Consequently
one can ensure that the customer is
satisfied with the milestones attained on
the way to the final goal, says Størkersen.
–The Armed Forces as an organisation
is highly oriented towards action and
achieving results. This means working
in complement with one’s collaboration
partners and capitalising on the present
possibilities. We maintain our focus in
the project through working in teams to
NO-2027 Kjeller
•
Instituttveien 20
•
NO-2007 Kjeller
keep the ultimate goal uppermost in our
thoughts, concludes Størkersen.
The breakthrough bodes well for the
further development of the project as the
three parties continue to work on new
minesweeping methodology.
•
Telephone +47 63 80 70 00
•
www.ffi.no
There is a constant race of technology
between mines and minesweeping
equipment under water. Today’s sea mines
are considerably more intelligent than
earlier versions. Modern mines do not
explode purely on contact with a vessel,
but are laid on the seafloor and are
triggered by a given vessel’s signature
(specific magnetic and acoustic signals
that are characteristic of certain ships).
In this way, mines can be employed with
great lethality against ships.
–The propeller of a larger ship radiates
a powerful low-frequency sound. Modern
mines utilise highly sophisticated
technology, which can be fine-tuned to
identify different kinds of ships from the
sound generated by their propellers. Until
now the mine-manufacturers have been
ahead, says Ole Refsahl at Kongsberg
Defence & Aerospace.
Research Director. Nils Størkersen is
a director of research at FFI and has
worked both on the AGATE and the HUGIN
projects. (Photo: Bjørn Fremstad, FFI)
January 2005 Design/production FFI
–Our success as a collaboration
in the effort to develop a new
sweeping capacity against
influence mines may be attributed
to an unswerving focus on the
goal, comments FFI Director of
Research Nils Størkersen.
This sensational, new development
is the product of a close
collaboration between the
Royal Norwegian Navy and the
Norwegian Defence Research
Establishment (FFI).
Many defence suppliers have tried to
reproduce this low frequency sound with
«AGATE» against mines. AGATE is the name of the newly developed minesweeping
equipment. (Photo: Morten Nakjem, FFI)
����������������������������������������