Integrated Masts The Next Generation Mas
Integrated Masts The Next Generation Mas
Integrated Masts The Next Generation Mas
Abstract
Introduction
1. How does an antenna become designated for use in navigation, weapon fire
control, communications, electronic countermeasures or for any other reason, and
ultimately installed onboard a Naval surface ship? The answer should be, it’s part of the
antenna design procedure. Though the answer is simple, the process is not. There was
a time, when this design procedure, referred to as dart-boarding, was based on an
educated guess for the most feasible layout of the antennas, followed by experimental
verification. As the reliance on electronic systems such as communications, radar,
navigation, gunfire control, friend-or-foe identification, electronic countermeasures, and
aircraft operations increased, one realized that complex, intricate below-decks
electronic equipment was virtually useless unless matched with satisfactory antenna
performance. Hence former methods of antenna design and topside arrangements were
no longer adequate and dart-boarding disappeared - to be replaced by careful scientific,
planning. These electronic systems divided the shipboard antennas into three broad
groups:
2. For an operational naval platform, the basic minimum required sensors are
communication antennas from HF to UHF, navigation radar, surveillance radar, IFF, Fire
Control Radar, ESM, jammers, electro-optical sensor systems and missile up-links.
Providing these large number and variety of distinct services on the antenna in the
extremely restricted space presents many very-difficult and different problems which do
not arise in other technical disciplines. Clustering of so many antennas in so little space,
plus the necessity for simultaneous emission and reception together with the
undesirable, but unavoidable, electromagnetic coupling to, and re-radiation from, a host
of other shipboard metal objects, results in a most trying system integration problem for
the ship. Strenuous efforts must be made to reach a compromise with all competing
topside subsystems so as to provide the least degradation in overall performance.
Types of mast
3. To meet the requirement of these sensors, the Naval Architects have hence used
pole masts (see fig 1a), cage masts (see fig 1b), tripod masts (see fig 1c), lattice masts
(see fig 2a), MACK (Mast-Stack) masts (see fig 2b), enclosed masts (see fig 2c) & solid
masts. The various types of masts have been a result of changing requirement of the
navies and the developing technology used over the years. Of all these masts, a plated
mast, even with a higher weight than a lattice mast, is preferred in most cases due to its
advantages of lower radar cross section, improved through life maintenance (due to
enclosed structure), lesser vibration and ability to handle larger weight of modern
equipments. The design of the mast however is not limited to just the placement of the
sensors. The mast design has a direct bearing on the design of the vessel itself as its
weight will impact the stability performance, air resistance will impact the ships speed
and the arrangement of the antennae will affect the top side electromagnetic
environment and RADHAZ. When designing, one needs to structurally integrate the
mast to the ship to ensure strength due to both static and dynamic loads (whipping
loads due to hull slamming, air resistance, shock), provide access, power and cooling
air and study the affect of the heat plume from the exhausts / funnel impinging on the
antennae.
(a) Lattice mast (b) MACK (MAst + StaCK) (c) Enclosed mast
(b) The Advanced Technology Mast (ATM) designed by the UK, comprises of
a steel substructure clad in advanced fibre reinforced plastic composite panels,
which incorporate radar-absorbing layers (see figure 4). Sensors are installed in
interchangeable modules mounted within the cladding. The philosophy of the
mast is intended to support future surface warship designs and retrofit to existing
ships. The sensors and radio equipment are completely enclosed in the radar
reflective mast structures. The masts look like unstayed polemasts with very
large rectangular cross-sections, tapering from the base to the top.
Sensors of I-Mast
5. All radars and antennas in an I-Mast not only have a full 360° field of view; they
are also developed so as to operate simultaneously without interfering each other.
These radars are non-rotating, four-faced active phased array radars, which in itself is a
major performance enhancement. As the four faces operate simultaneously, the radars
achieve four times the time on target achieved by a rotating radar. The surface
surveillance radar (Seastar) was developed especially for this purpose and it is capable
of detecting and tracking small objects (e.g. divers' head) between the waves,
contributing enormously to situational awareness in littoral environments. The details of
the sensors as fitted in an I-Mast are as under:
(a) SeaMaster 400 (also called SMILE) is a non-rotating S-band radar with
four faces for air and surface surveillance. It is derived from the proven SMART
and APAR radar systems. SM400’s unique concept of multibeam volume search
with four active scanning faces ensures the simultaneous performance of all
operational tasks at a high update rate and very low false alarm rate. SM400 also
provides helicopter direction and approach capabilities and has three fire control
channels. The system’s high number of parallel transmit and receive channels
provide a high degree of redundancy.
(d) The Integrated Communication Antenna System (ICAS) facilitates the use
of standard VHF / UHF communications equipment, is fitted with Link 16
integration, provides excellent transmit/receive isolation, offers estate for
auxiliary antennas such as GSM/GPS and is designed for future growth.
(e) The non-rotating Identification Friend or Foe (NR IFF) uses a cylindrical
array fitted to the top of the structure. It is designed to operate with standard
interrogator/transponder systems. It is optimized for operation with a non-rotating
primary radar and offers accuracy commensurate with Mode 5/S.
7. Littoral environments are extremely complex given the high density of natural and
man-made clutter, crowded commercial air and sea lanes, vehicle traffic along the
coastline, and the effects of anomalous propagation on sensor performance. To further
complicate the problem, recent years have seen the emergence of an increasingly
“asymmetric” threat set (including, inter alia, unmanned air vehicles, “gofast” vessels,
fast inshore attack craft, gliders, dinghies, swimmers and mines) that are intrinsically
difficult to detect in high clutter backgrounds. To resolve such issues the concept of an
integrated mast incorporating the principal surveillance sensors and communication
systems has evolved. By resolving the electromagnetic conflicts and line-of-sight
obstructions inherent to traditional topside antenna arrangements, the integrated mast
aims at delivering an unobstructed field of view, reduced cross section; ease of
electromagnetic friction and to simplify shipboard integration. This in return provides a
significant benefit in terms of improved operational performance and availability, shorter
shipbuilding time, reduced maintenance requirements and significant savings in below-
deck volume. In an integrated mast various antennae are integrated within the design of
the mast itself along with the electronic equipment to be “integrated” in the mast as a
single unit. The result is a mast which is a structurally self supporting module. The
integrated mast with its technology of integrated sensor concept delivers huge
advantages which are:
Conclusion
8. Various advanced Mast design have been produced in the recent past which
have been discussed in this paper. All of them have been tested for their structural
performance against both environmental and shock loads. One can say with confidence
that today the concept of “integrated mast” has become a reality from just a technology
demonstration project. Though it is definitely a product which shall become an integral
part of the future ship design, however many issues such as the impact of the integrated
mast on ship design need to be studied in detail. One needs to also study issues such
as material selection for the mast, access arrangements and structural integration and
stability as key aspects among many. Finally the integrated mast designers themselves
will continue to be challenged by how to design a mast or series of masts that offer a
solution that is sufficiently flexible for fit to a variety of vessel sizes and satisfy differing
customer requirements.
References
2. Law, Preston E Jr; Accommodating antenna systems in the ship design process
3. Miller, Paul; Design Criteria for composite masts, The 12th Chesapeake Sailing
Yatch Symposium
4. Koko T S, Brennan D P, Luo X, Norwood M E, Jiang L and Akpan U O;
Modelling and Analysis Capabilities for Lightweight Masts, Defence R&D
Canada, Contractor Report
7. Kane C E, Fixter G and Pogson G; The Advanced Technology Mast for HMS Ark
Royal
Author’s Biography