Royal Canadian Navy ships to test new variable depth ASW sonars

The Defence Research and Development Canada is set to test the TRAPS (Towed Reelable Active Passive Sonar), a variable depth ASW sonar on Royal Canadian Navy ships.

The department has contracted GeoSpectrum Technologies Inc. to deliver the systems for testing.

According to GeoSpectrum, TRAPS is a towed compact, active-passive, variable-depth sonar for submarine, torpedo and surface-ship detection. TRAPS has an active sound source that operates as a vertical projector array which is a smaller version of that used for larger open ocean variable depth sonars.

TRAPS does not require a deployment/recovery system, the company noted. TRAPS can be supplied for a permanent ship fit, and can also be housed in a 20 ft ISO container for deployment on multi-mission vessels.

“We’re very excited about having the opportunity to test a TRAPS system on a Canadian Navy ship,” said Paul Yeatman, GeoSpectrum’s president. “Through the Build in Canada Innovation Program, the Royal Canadian Navy will be able to test a portable ASW sonar system that can be operated from vessels of opportunity, including our Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs) and the new Arctic Operations Vessel (AOPV).”