Press Releases
Agreement includes multi-year contract for development of new naval sonar products
OTTAWA, Ontario and ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland — General Dynamics Canada, a pioneer in the development of military acoustics processing and display solutions, and Marport C-Tech Ltd., a leading sonar manufacturer for underwater defence, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting the stage for the joint development and marketing of a suite of next generation underwater acoustic products to support underwater military Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. This partnership will position General Dynamics Canada and Marport to address increasing global market demand for underwater ISR systems as militaries around the world rebuild and retool their fleets.
Associated with today’s announcement, General Dynamics Canada has awarded Marport a multi-year research and development contract for new naval sonar products that leverage Marport’s Software Defined Sonar® (SDS) technology. Initially designed to address commercial fishing needs, SDS is an innovative, cost-effective and flexible sonar platform, offering a technically advanced alternative to traditional hardware-based sonar product development. The new sonar products developed with Marport’s SDS technology will integrate into General Dynamics Canada’s Open Architecture Acoustics Processing Application Suite to provide advanced processing capabilities on a user interface designed by airborne and naval acoustics operators.
"The tables have turned in the military market from a technology perspective. Where 20 years ago military development would filter into commercial applications, today we’re seeing increasing military demand to leverage commercial technology for next generation military applications." said Mike Greenley, vice president of Business Development and Strategic Planning for General Dynamics Canada. "This type of dual-use technology enables us to offer very competitively priced products, and with this partnership, we are ideally positioned to address the sweet spot of a growing global market for cost-effective, easily upgradeable software-centric sonar and acoustic processing solutions."
For more than 40 years, General Dynamics Canada has been providing underwater warfare solutions for both air and maritime platforms. Recognized by militaries around the world, the company’s innovative solutions are in use by the air forces and navies of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Japan and Korea, The announcement today highlights a strategic step by General Dynamics Canada further strengthening its market position.
Karl Kenny, CEO of Marport C-Tech said, "Our agreement with General Dynamics Canada will enable us to increase our focus on high-value, high-impact acoustic solutions for the underwater battlespace. We see the potential of our mutual synergies being realized with leading-edge products, increased revenues and new customers."
The suite of new and existing products, targeted at naval surface vessels as well as maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters, will include:
- Hull-Mounted Sonar
- Variable Depth Sonar
- Underwater Navigation Systems
- Sonobuoy Processing Systems
- Harbour Surveillance Sonar
- Unmanned Underwater Vehicles
- Distributed Remote Sensing Systems
- Undersea Acoustic Communications
About Marport C-Tech Ltd.
Founded in 1969, Marport C-Tech is a leading designer and manufacturer of high performance underwater defence systems for the Canadian Navy, major defence contractors and international naval customers. The company is certified to ISO-9001 and includes electronic, software, mechanical and acoustic development, manufacturing and test capabilities. The company was acquired by Marport Canada Inc. in June 2009. For additional information visit: www.marport.com/defence
About General Dynamics
General Dynamics Canada, headquartered in Ottawa, is a premier provider of defence electronic systems and a leading systems integrator of complete Command, Control, Communication, Computing, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) solutions. The company has established an international pedigree for excellence in the production of technology-based, integrated solutions for land, airborne and maritime applications. More information about the company is available at: www.gdcanada.com.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,300 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.
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For more information about this media release, please contact:
Glenda Leyte
Marport C-Tech Ltd.
709.757.5757 x 242
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Amy MacLeod
General Dynamics Canada
613.596.7898
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Additional Background
During the Cold War, the focus of Canada and other allied nations was on finding and tracking large nuclear submarines operating in the vast expanses of the world’s oceans. The collapse of the Soviet Union took the focus off underwater ISR temporarily. According to defence analysts with Jane’s, over the next 10 years, 80 – and perhaps as many as 100 – new submarines could be procured by Pakistan, India, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and, potentially, Taiwan. These submarines are harder to find than those of the Cold War era; they are
smaller, quieter submarines and can operate in the challenging, constrained waters of the world's littorals.
The world’s navies are now attempting to re-invigorate the agility and versatility of their underwater systems; they recognize a need to increase the capabilities of underwater ISR to support new platforms and operating methods against these emerging threats. In addition to submarine threats, navies also have to contend with a variety of underwater, improvised explosive devices, including sea mines. A further emerging threat is the proliferation of unmanned underwater vehicles that can be equipped with a variety of weapons delivery systems.
Detecting and localizing these stealthy threats is not possible using traditional sonar designed to detect large nuclear submarines operating in the open ocean. The prospect of identifying these new threats makes investment in new undersea sensing and surveillance technologies more urgent than ever.
General Dynamics Canada and Marport C-Tech will jointly develop and market of a series of next generation products that support a variety of Underwater Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. (Submitted Image)
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