Kraken supplying towed sonar for Israeli unmanned surface vessel

ST JOHN'S, Newfoundland, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A towed sonar system is being supplied to Israel's Elbit Systems Ltd. by Kraken Sonar Inc. of Canada for use by a new unmanned surface vessel.

The towed sonar system is the Katfish, which produces ultra-high resolution seabed imagery with constant resolution to full range. It also delivers 3D bathymetry data that's co-registered and geo-referenced to the same pixel grid coordinates as the imagery.

The sonar system is operated through a laptop computer.

Details of the contract received by Kraken Sonar from Elbit Systems were not revealed but Kraken indicated it would be for use with Elbit's newest unmanned surface vessel, the Seagull.

Seagull is a multi-mission platform with modular features that allow it to be quickly reconfigured for a wide variety of missions, including anti-submarine warfare and mine counter-measures.

"Elbit's Seagull USV is one of the most advanced ocean drones in the world -- one that will save lives," said Karl Kenny, president of Kraken Sonar. "When our Synthetic Aperture Sonar is integrated on Elbit's Seagull USV, the system can provide remotely operated, unmanned, end-to-end mine-hunting operations.

"These ocean drones can detect very small objects hidden on the seabed and enter confined spaces where underwater explosives are likely to be hidden. Since robotic systems can be remotely operated their use can remove people from very dangerous missions -- in essence, taking the sailor out of the minefield."