“Blue Whale” – a real leap in innovation for maritime security

In its 2035 target, the Navy defines the future direction of the German naval forces as “deterrence, defense and progress”. This goal can only be achieved with greater integration of unmanned systems, also to protect our own soldiers.

Conventional maritime platforms are by no means replaceable. Submarines, in particular, remain at the heart of naval forces with their unique capabilities to operate stealthily and carry a variety of weapons and electronic payloads. Given the high procurement and personnel costs as well as the increase in the number of rooms to be monitored, it is clear that the existing capabilities in this area need to be supplemented, which must also include the quantity of systems to be used.

In particular, the ability to bring powerful sensors undetected into the vicinity of immediate and/or potential threats is one of the core tasks of submarines in both times of peace and times of conflict.

ELTA Systems Ltd, an innovative subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries in the area of ​​systems and sensors, provides the right answer to these capability gaps. ELTA offers a comprehensive portfolio of high-performance, mission-proven systems ranging from multi-role aircraft to manned and unmanned ground vehicles and UUVs. The system solutions include integrated EW (ESM/ECM), Radar, EO/IR, IMINT, Launch Detection Systems (LDS), SAR/GMTI, SIGINT and Cyber. This broad expertise is a key factor in the ability to deliver groundbreaking, high-value strategic solutions like Blue Whale to partners around the world.

Blue Whale is the first unmanned underwater system of its kind. With its functions and on-board capabilities, the new system combines a discreet, powerful unmanned underwater platform with radar, SIGINT and communication technologies. Additionally, extensive onboard processing capabilities directly contribute to groundbreaking undersea warfare capabilities. The system therefore makes a valuable contribution to conventional submarine reconnaissance at lower costs and without directly endangering the crews.

As a true “performance multiplier”, equipped with sophisticated sensors and powerful onboard processing functions, it supports conventional manned submarine fleets in the following tasks:

• Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), including covert operations in coastal areas
• Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) – Hunting submarines within your own territory
• Acoustic Reconnaissance (ACINT)
• Covert mine detection and other mine countermeasures (MCM)
• Supporting special forces, including reconnaissance aircraft and minesweepers
• Reconnaissance and patrol for conventional submarines (Loyal Submarine Wingman)
• Investigation of piracy, terrorism and illegal migration
• Support for oceanographic expeditions

The Blue Whale has already proven itself in the above-mentioned application profiles. Completing these tasks efficiently without endangering your own crew represents a significant leap in performance. In addition, the Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) is designed for continuous improvements that will further enhance its already impressive capabilities. Whether in response to changing mission requirements or due to the availability of new payloads, the system's flexible, modular architecture provides the growth potential to keep pace with future developments.

The development of the underwater system under the management of EE was and is characterized by close exchange between the users and the team from Elta Systems Ltd. EE, himself a former naval officer with more than 25 years at sea in various leadership positions, says: "Blue Whale, with its advanced sensors and systems, is essentially the first UUV that can truly complement larger manned platforms." He continues: “By using the latest technologies, we are able to achieve powerful sensor technology with significantly reduced size and weight. “We are equipping Blue Whale with an unprecedented range of reconnaissance, surveillance and other capabilities at relatively low cost.”

Den Anstoß für die Entwicklung des »Blue Whale« beschreibt EE folgendermaßen: „Bemannte U-Boote sind ein unverzichtbarer Bestandteil der Expeditionsmarine, aber es gibt nicht genug von ihnen, um alle erforderlichen Aufgaben zu erfüllen. Es besteht ein Bedarf an einer Plattform, die sie ergänzt, indem sie einige der erforderlichen Aufgaben sicher, verdeckt und autonom ausführt“. Während IAI und ELTA weltweit für ihre luft- und bodengestützten Lösungen bekannt sind, ist ihr beeindruckendes maritimes Erbe weniger bekannt. In der Tat war IAI das erste Unternehmen, das eine Anti-Schiffsrakete entwickelte, und das Unternehmen kann zahlreiche Durchbrüche bei Marineradar, ELINT, Kommunikationssystemen und Selbstverteidigungssystemen vorweisen. Neben dem maritimen Erbe des Unternehmens profitiert »Blue Whale« auch von IAIs Position als Weltmarktführer bei UAV-Systemen und von ELTAs Expertise bei autonomen Robotersystemen. »Blue Whale« profitiert von der umfangreichen Erfahrung, die bei der Konzeption und Entwicklung dieser Systeme gesammelt wurde, und wendet dieses umfassende Know-how auf die Unterwasserwelt an”. Zu den einzigartigen ASW-Fähigkeiten der Plattform bemerkte EE: „Die Zusammenarbeit mit ATLAS ELEKTRONIK bei der Integration des herausragenden TAS-Sonars (TAS = Towed Array Sonar) von »Blue Whale« ermöglicht eine unglaubliche Leistung bei der U-Boot-Jagd, indem diese hochentwickelte Sensortechnologie direkt in Tiefen gebracht wird, die traditionell als detektionsfreie Zonen galten“.

Blue Whale is a long-range Large Displacement Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV) for sustained and stealthy reconnaissance missions in otherwise inaccessible coastal waters. It is powered solely by its powerful Li-ion battery pack. The 10.9 meter long and 5.5 tonne vehicle is quiet and can remain in position for up to four weeks, depending on the operational profile. Other performance parameters include an underwater speed of 7 knots and a diving depth of 300 meters. A key design feature of this robust, advanced underwater platform is a unique, patented surface payload mast that is fully sealed to protect surface sensors and equipment during the dive. The mast can be configured with various payloads and antennas, including SATCOM. The latter enables data exchange with operations management in real time.

The selection of advanced sensors and systems enables the modular “Blue Whale” to be optimally configured for a wide range of mission profiles. Surface payload options include

• radar
• Day/night EO/IR
• COMINT/ELINT/ESM
• Options for sensors below the water surface are
• TAS (Towed Array Sonar) developed by ATLAS ELEKTRONIK
• Active and passive flank array sonar (FAS) for detecting ships and submarines
• Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) for mine detection and high-resolution mapping of the seabed, developed by KRAKEN
• Magnetic sensors to verify mine detection

Blue Whale is operated and managed via a special cyber-protected Command & Control (C2) system that enables continuous situational awareness, calls to action, event logging, remote control and much more. With its modular design, a wide range of sensor and system payloads and operational flexibility, Blue Whale offers naval forces unprecedented unmanned and autonomous capabilities. The system represents nothing less than a critical performance multiplier, providing the advantages of a large submarine formation while addressing the need to minimize budgetary and personnel requirements.