19 Jul 2010 | Ref. 162/2010
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Data transfer through solid steel
Farnborough, UK - A revolutionary technology developed by BAE Systems that allows data to pass wirelessly through several inches of solid steel could save millions of pounds in the way submarines are designed, built and maintained. It also promises to enhance protection offered to soldiers using armoured fighting vehicles.
The through-hull data link system removes in one swoop the need to create hundreds of holes in a submarine hull to send and receive data from sensors and other external equipment.
The system is safer and more cost efficient. The current method of using holes fitted with specials ‘penetrators’ that have to be welded to the hull is expensive. There could be up to 300 penetrations in any single submarine and inserting each one represents a significant build cost.
Drilling the holes also necessitates additional strengthening of the hull to counteract the consequent structural weaknesses. The penetrations are prone to stress fatigue associated with repeated submarine dives. Tackling that fatigue substantially increases the through-life maintenance costs.
“We’ve developed a number of technology demonstrators and are currently testing it in a submarine environment,” says John Bagshaw, the technology executive from BAE Systems Advanced Technology Centre who has helped develop the system.
“We have demonstrated how signals from a video camera can pass through an armoured vehicle’s hull. This could offer significant advantages in increasing the crew’s situational awareness without reducing their protection.”
In due course, the oil, civil nuclear and gas industries could also benefit from this BAE Systems technology.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is a global defence, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion).
For further information, please contact:
Andrew Jenkins, BAE Systems
T +44 (0) 117 302 8160 | M +44 (0) 7801 717037
andrew.jenkins@baesystems.com
Kate Watcham, BAE Systems
Tel: +44(0)1252 383550 Mob: +44(0) 7793 420731
Kate.watcham@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384719 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
24hr media hotline: + 44 (0) 7801 717739
www.baesystems.com
