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Cable Solutions · Specialty Products & Services
Heavy & light TOW cables
Heavy and light tow cables for airborne and shipborne sonar systems.
Description
OverviewAnti-submarine warfare operations demand surface ship, submarine or airborne sonars for detection, tracking, localisation, and classification of underwater targets. The deployment and retrieval of an airborne dunking sonar or surface ship towed sonar is carried out through sonar winches and associated underwater cables. The cables used are armoured cables, either electro-mechanical or electro-opto mechanical for such applications. The tow cables form the umbilical of any towed system. APAR has developed and tested electro-opto mechanical tow cables namely Heavy Tow Cable (HTC) and Light Tow Cable (LTC). Application Towed sonar systems require two types of tow cables, namely HTC and LTC, for towing the linear array and an underwater towed body behind the ship. The tow cables used in the marine environment transmit power to the underwater equipment and carry signals for underwater communi
Tow cables deploy and retrieve sonar arrays under load in seawater, combining electrical or optical transmission with the tensile strength to carry the towed body.
Why this wire
Key benefits Purpose-built designs Engineered for specialised, demanding applications.
Custom development Cable design services for specific requirements.
Proven in the field Supplied to critical projects across sectors.
Quality-tested Produced in ISO-accredited plants with in-house testing.
Characteristics
At a glance| Application | Towed sonar systems require two types of tow cables, namely HTC and LTC, for towing the linear array and an underwater towed body behind the ship. The tow cables used in the marine environment transmit power to the underwater equipment and carry signals for underwater communication. In addition, these cables are capable of withstanding hydrodynamic forces in the ocean environment caused by waves, currents or towing loads. |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | These two cables provide the optical, electrical and mechanical connection of the towed body and array with onboard processors. |
| Applicable standards | |
| Product range | |
| Advantages | The HTC is negatively buoyant and plays an important role in keeping the towed body and rest of the array in depth. This cable has two contra-helically wound layers of high strength Nitronic-50 alloy armour. The LTC is a neutrally buoyant cable which ensures sufficient trail or standoff distance of the towed array from the ship to limit the effects of the ship’s self-noise on the array and also helps the array modules to be in the same depth as the towed body. |
Construction
Cutaway123
- 1Bright copper conductorHigh-conductivity electrolytic grade, stranded
- 2HFFR / insulationHalogen-free, low-smoke, heat-resistant
- 3Printed identification & ISI markingGrade, size, voltage, standard & licence no.
Standards & approvals
ComplianceManufactured to the applicable Indian and international standards for this cable type, and tested in APAR's NABL-accredited laboratory. Please contact us for the specific standards, test certificates and detailed specifications for your project.
Applications
Where it's usedCarry signals for underwater communication
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Documents
DownloadsFAQs
Good to knowWhere are these cables typically used?+
Towed sonar systems require two types of tow cables, namely HTC and LTC, for towing the linear array and an underwater towed body behind the ship.
How do I get pricing or more details?+
Use the enquiry form on this page or the Request a Quote option, and APAR's team will respond with availability and details for your requirement.
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