Sonar technology company Wavefront Systems Ltd has been awarded a contract by global defence company MARSS Group to deliver its Sentinel Intruder Detection Sonar (IDS) as part of MARSS’s NiDAR surveillance system for a fleet of Corvette-class vessels deployed in Southeast Asia.
The contract involves MARSS installing NiDAR and associated sensors onboard multiple vessels. The NiDAR platform will fuse a range of new and legacy sensors, including Wavefront’s Sentinel IDS sonar, navigational radars and infrared cameras, into a single user interface, to provide a highly accurate and rapid means of detecting and classifying underwater and surface threats to the vessel, when in transit, at anchor or in port.
The contract marks the first occasion when NiDAR will be operational on combat-facing vessels. The project, beginning this year, is expected to run until 2029, with the first vessel due for handover in 2026.
Sentinel IDS automatically detects, classifies and tracks underwater threats approaching a protected area or asset, such as a diver, swimmer delivery vehicle or underwater drone. The latest generation IDS, Sentinel 2, adds advanced simultaneous in-band active and passive sonar capability to identify threats and protect assets at ranges of up to 1500 metres for mini-subs and diver detection at up to 1000 metres.
“By bringing our NiDAR technology to the front lines of naval defence, we’re not just expanding our market reach, but actively contributing to the security of those who serve and the nations they represent,” said MARSS Maritime MD Frederik Giepmans. “It’s a responsibility we take very seriously, which is why we only work with sector-leading sensor partners such as Wavefront, with systems our customers can rely on.”
“This partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration,” said Ioseba Tena, MD of Forcys, Wavefront’s sister company. “By combining MARSS C2 with Wavefront’s Sentinel, navies worldwide have been able to protect critical assets worldwide from underwater threats. At Forcys, we look forward to continuing this legacy and supporting new customers whose naval bases and ships are currently at risk.”
