Kongsberg Maritime AS, Sensor & Robotics announced it has been awarded a contract for the delivery of its sonars for the Finnish Navy’s Pohjanmaa-class corvettes that are being developed under the country’s Squadron 2020 project.
Kongsberg noted it would be responsible for the delivery of the SS2030 and SD9500 sonars for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and diver detection.
The contract is worth 100 million Norwegian krone (approx. $9.5m), according to the company.
The SS2030, principally devised for ASW operations and capable of detecting torpedoes or other small objects in the water column, is an active hull-mounted sonar. Its electronically-stabilized transmitting and receiving beams can be tilted to adjust to different sound speed profiles, with its integrated sound propagation model determining the optimal tilt settings and enhancing the probability of detection (PoD) ratio. The SS2030 sonars will be delivered to the Finnish Navy complete with hoist-able hull units and ice protection to ensure safe and efficient operation in the often harsh conditions of the Baltic Sea.
The SD9500, meanwhile, is a light and compact over-the-side dipping sonar with horizontal and vertical positioning capabilities for diver detection, ASW duties and volumetric survey assignments in shallow, reverberation-limited waters.
Finland’s Squadron 2020 project
Finland is buying four Pohjanmaa-class corvettes, at an estimated cost of 1 billion euros. The Finnish government approved the procurement in September 2019. The new vessels will replace the Rauma-class fast-attack missile boats and Hämeenmaa-class minelayers that will reach the end of their service life by the mid-2020s.
Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC), which will be responsible for designing and building the vessels, is expected to start construction of the first unit in 2022.
The corvettes will be equipped with Raytheon’s Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) systems and the Gabriel anti-ship missiles developed by Israel Aerospace Industries.
Saab, who will be responsible for the development of the combat systems for the ships, will also be equipping them with torpedoes.
The vessels are scheduled to be delivered to the navy by 2026, while the final ship is set enter service by 2028.
