Tim Fish reports

蒂姆•菲什报道

 

The development of naval integrated mast structures has been driven by the need to improve the combat capabilities of warships.​​​​​​​ 

海军综合桅杆结构的发展是由提高军舰作战能力的需要推动的。​​​​​​​ 

 

The FDI frigates being built for France and Greece are examples of integrated masts. Credit: Naval Group

为法国和希腊建造的外国直接投资护卫舰就是集成桅杆的例子。来源：海军集团

 

A naval warship’s mast that brings together all the communications, radar and electronic warfare systems means that platforms can be better controlled and coordinated with software and digital processes.

一艘海军战舰的桅杆汇集了所有的通信、雷达和电子战系统，这意味着平台可以更好地与软件和数字过程进行控制和协调。

 

In doing so, it prevents interference with the ship’s structure while enabling performance to be optimised using specialist materials in the mast structure. The equipment centrally located on a single mast means that powering the devices and supporting them is simplified and the electronics are better protected.

这样做，它可以防止对船舶结构的干扰，同时使用桅杆结构中的专业材料优化性能。设备集中安装在单个桅杆上意味着简化了设备的供电和支撑，更好地保护了电子设备。

 

Furthermore, the physical construction of an integrated mast structure on the hull of a ship is made easier during construction and its position gives it a higher mechanical strength to withstand the harsh oceanic environment. Importantly for warfare at sea the placement of all the antennas, sensors, and detectors on a covered mast – instead of either an open mast or located where antennas and sensors are positioned all over the topside of the warship – reduces the radar cross section of the vessel, making it less detectable.

此外，在建造过程中，船体上集成桅杆结构的物理构造更容易，其位置使其具有更高的机械强度，能够承受恶劣的海洋环境。对于海上战争来说，重要的是将所有天线、传感器和探测器放置在有外罩的桅杆上，而不是开放式桅杆或将天线和传感器放置在军舰顶部的地方，这会减小船只的雷达横截面，使其更难被探测到。

 

In a sea of examples available in the naval marketplace, determining trends can be difficult. However, taking two examples from European industry, a set of benefits begins to emerge. 

在海军市场上的大量例子中，确定趋势可能很困难。然而，以欧洲工业为例，一系列好处开始出现。

 

Saab’s SLIM approach

萨博的SLIM方法

 

Swedish defence company Saab Kockums has been a leader in the development of integrated mast systems over the past two decades with the fitting of composite masts onto new-build warships as well as retrofitting them to older vessels. In Sweden these have included the Stockholm-class corvettes, Koster-class Mine Countermeasures Vessels and Gävle-class corvettes.

在过去的二十年里，瑞典国防公司萨博科库姆斯(Saab Kockums)一直是集成桅杆系统开发的领导者，将复合桅杆安装在新建军舰上，并将其改装到旧船上。在瑞典，这些护卫舰包括斯德哥尔摩级护卫舰、科斯特级反水雷舰和盖夫勒级护卫舰。

 

The company’s latest offering is the Saab Lightweight Integrated Mast (SLIM), which accommodates all of a warship’s major radars, sensors and antenna. The Pohjanmaa-class corvettes (SQ2020) under construction for the Finnish Navy will be fitted with the SLIM. 

该公司的最新产品是萨博轻型集成桅杆（SLIM），可容纳军舰的所有主要雷达、传感器和天线。芬兰海军正在建造的波赫扬马级护卫舰（SQ2020）将配备SLIM。

 

A composite mast can enhance sensor performance and will reduce maintenance cost.Magnus Dannemyr, Saab Kockums

复合材料桅杆可以提高传感器性能，并降低维护成本。马格努斯·丹内梅尔，萨博科库姆斯

 

The mast on the Finnish corvettes will include the Sea Giraffe 4A FF and Sea Giraffe 1X radar, identification-friend-or-foe (IFF), an electronic warfare suite, electro-optical systems and communications antennas. The mast also hosts fire detection and extinguishing equipment, a CBRN pre-wetting and washdown system, HVAC, navigation lights and meteorological sensors.

芬兰护卫舰上的桅杆将包括海长颈鹿4A FF和海长颈鹿1X雷达、敌我识别（IFF）、电子战套件、电光系统和通信天线。该桅杆还装有火灾探测和灭火设备、CBRN预湿和冲洗系统、暖通空调、导航灯和气象传感器。

 

According to Magnus Dannemyr, product manager, composite at Saab Kockums the SLIM is approximately 50% lighter than a steel mast of the same design, whilst also being non-corroding.

萨博科库姆斯复合材料产品经理马格纳斯·丹尼米尔表示，SLIM比相同设计的钢桅杆轻约50%，同时也不腐蚀。

 

Dannemyr told Global Defence Technology that because it is lightweight this “gives reduced top weight for increased ship stability, a higher mast to facilitate longer sensor range, a weight margin for more sensors and weapons and also future growth.” 

丹尼米尔告诉全球国防技术，由于其重量轻，“可以减轻顶部重量以提高船舶稳定性，增加桅杆以促进更长的传感器范围，为更多的传感器和武器以及未来的增长提供重量余量。”

 

Saab’s SLIM masts will be fitted to Finland’s new Pohjanmaa-class corvettes. Credit: Saab

萨博的SLIM桅杆将安装在芬兰新的波赫扬马级护卫舰上。来源：萨博

 

SLIM is modular and scalable and therefore can be adapted to improve its performance depending on the sensors selected by the navy customer. Saab’s intention is for the SLIM mast to be a solution optimised for smaller and less high-end naval vessels to give them the capabilities of larger warships. The design and lightweight materials used in the SLIM mean there are also lower life-cycle costs and reduced maintenance compared to steel solutions.

SLIM是模块化和可扩展的，因此可以根据海军客户选择的传感器进行调整以提高其性能。萨博的意图是将SLIM桅杆作为一种针对小型和不太高端的海军舰艇进行优化的解决方案，使其具备大型军舰的能力。SLIM中使用的设计和轻质材料意味着与钢解决方案相比，其生命周期成本更低，维护更少。

 

“A composite mast can enhance sensor performance and will reduce maintenance cost over the ships lifespan and thereby have lower life-cycle costs, but initially it can be more expensive to acquire than a similar mast made of steel,” Dannemyr said.

丹尼米尔说：“复合材料桅杆可以提高传感器性能，并在船舶寿命期间降低维护成本，从而降低生命周期成本，但最初它可能比类似的钢制桅杆更昂贵。”

 

Saab has experience in the use of composites and carbon-fibre construction through its build of the RSwN’s Visby-class corvettes. The features of SLIM highlight the benefits of an integrated mast system over earlier antenna and sensor arrangements and over steel structures.  

萨博通过建造瑞典皇家海军(RSwN)的维斯比级护卫舰，在使用复合材料和碳纤维结构方面拥有丰富的经验。SLIM的特点突出了集成桅杆系统相对于早期天线和传感器布置以及钢结构的优势。

 

Naval Group’s integration origin

海军集团的整合起源

 

French shipbuilder Naval Group has its own mast products known as the Panoramic Sensors and Intelligence Module (PSIM), which was originally developed for its Gowind ship programme.

法国造船商海军集团拥有自己的桅杆产品，称为全景传感器和智能模块（PSIM），最初是为其“追风”(Gowind)船舶项目开发的。

 

PSIM combines several functional chains of the combat system from sensors to computing capabilities and operator consoles. This allows them to be integrated and commissioned in parallel with the assembly of the hull during the construction of the host ship reducing ship lead times and providing more reliable testing. Because PSIM is a modular part of the ship it can be built separately, activated, tested, and used for training ashore prior to integration on the hull. 

PSIM结合了作战系统的几个功能链，从传感器到计算能力和操作员控制台。这使得它们可以在主船建造期间与船体组装并行集成和调试，从而缩短船舶交付周期并提供更可靠的测试。由于PSIM是船舶的模块化部件，因此可以单独建造、激活、测试，并在集成到船体上之前用于岸上训练。

 

A spokesperson from Naval Group told Global Defence Technology that in addition to the need for 360° coverage “strong transmitters and sensitive receivers are positioned on the same vertical, so that they don't pollute each other from an electromagnetic compatibility point of view. Some antennas need zenithal coverage, which means no obstacles at maximum elevation.”

海军集团的一位发言人告诉全球防御技术，除了需要360°覆盖外，“强发射机和灵敏接收机位于同一垂直线上，从电磁兼容性的角度来看，它们不会相互污染。一些天线需要天顶覆盖，这意味着在最大高度没有障碍物。”

 

We need to continue adapting to changing threats, or rather anticipating them to stay one step ahead.Naval Group spokesperson

我们需要继续适应不断变化的威胁，或者更确切地说，预测它们会领先一步。海军集团发言人

 

The spokesperson added: “Given the chosen arrangement of antennas, sensors and detectors, there are no incompatibilities between them, nor any restrictions on their use.”

发言人补充道：“考虑到天线、传感器和探测器的选定布置，它们之间没有不兼容之处，也没有任何使用限制。”

 

The mast integrates the sensors with the ship’s Combat Management System and the ship’s Combat Information Centre through the data processing centre.

该桅杆通过数据处理中心将传感器与舰艇的作战管理系统和舰艇的作战信息中心集成在一起。

 

PSIM is made of different types of metallic materials including aluminium and steel, composites, and specialist absorbent materials. However, it is also designed so that functional chains can be tested in an onshore integration centre making PSIM predominantly a software product. PSIM weighs about 150-tonnes and is 42m high.

PSIM由不同类型的金属材料制成，包括铝和钢、复合材料和专业吸收材料。然而，它的设计也使功能链可以在陆上集成中心进行测试，使PSIM主要是一种软件产品。PSIM重约150吨，高42米。

 

It is fitted to the Gowind corvettes and FDI frigates of the French Navy as well as the Gowind corvettes of the Egyptian and UAE navies. PSIM has also been integrated on Amiral Ronarc’h, the first of the FDI frigates for France and HS Kimon, the first FDI frigate for the Hellenic Nay.

它安装在法国海军的“追风”级护卫舰和FDI护卫舰上，以及埃及和阿联酋海军的“追风”级护卫舰上。PSIM还被整合到法国的第一艘外国直接投资护卫舰“罗纳克海军上将”号和希腊海军的第一艘外商直接投资护卫舰“基蒙”级上。

 

Naval Group’s PSIM has its origins in the Gowind programme but has evolved. Credit: Naval Group

海军集团的PSIM起源于“追风”级计划，但已经发展。来源：海军集团

 

On both the French and Greek ships, the PSIMs will host the Thales Seafire 4D AESA multi-function radar and Thales Bluegate TSA 6000 e-scan IFF,  which both employ flat panel antennas. It is also fitted with low probability of intercept radars, two Safran PASEO-XLR electro-optic and fire-control systems, short-range day and night cameras, the Thales Sentinel R-ESM and ALTESSE-H communications ESM and Communications Intelligence systems, as well as standard datalinks and satellite communications.

在法国和希腊的舰船上，PSIM将搭载泰雷兹Seafire 4D AESA多功能雷达和泰雷兹Bluegate TSA 6000电子扫描敌我识别系统，两者均采用平板天线。它还配备了低截获概率雷达、两套赛峰PASEO-XLR光电和火控系统、短距昼夜摄像机、泰雷兹哨兵R-ESM和ALTESSE-H通信ESM和通信情报系统，以及标准数据链和卫星通信。

 

Meanwhile the demands on integrated mast systems are growing with an increasing need for communications systems.

与此同时，随着对通信系统需求的增加，对集成桅杆系统的需求也在增长。

 

“Communications requirements are increasing, with other ships, aircraft, and drones. The ship's topside, including the PSIM, must therefore be further exploited to increase the number of possible communications,” the Naval Group spokesperson said.

海军集团发言人表示：“与其他船只、飞机和无人机的通信需求正在增加。因此，必须进一步利用包括PSIM在内的船体上部，以增加可能的通信数量。”

 

“The need to combat asymmetrical threats and better identify naval and airborne motives is already taken into account in PSIMs. We need to continue adapting to changing threats, or rather anticipating them to stay one step ahead.” 

“PSIM已经考虑到了打击不对称威胁和更好地识别海军和空军动机的需要。我们需要继续适应不断变化的威胁，或者更确切地说，我们需要预测他们会领先一步。”

 

Naval superpowers stick with tradition

海军超级大国坚持传统

 

The US Navy is the most obvious outlier of services that have eschewed the use of integrated masts, using the more traditional span design seen on the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, as well as the future Constellation-class guided missile frigates.

美国海军是最明显的例外，他们避免使用集成桅杆，使用阿利·伯克级导弹驱逐舰以及未来的星座级导弹护卫舰上更传统的跨度设计。

 

China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy, also known as the PLAN, as a rapidly evolving fleet, also makes use of traditional ship’s masts, but is gradually moving towards integrated designs. 

中国人民解放军海军，也称为PLAN，作为一支快速发展的舰队，也使用传统的舰船桅杆，但正逐渐转向一体化设计。

 

The US Navy’s Arleigh Burke class opt for non-integrated masts. Credit: US Navy

美国海军的阿利·伯克级选择非集成桅杆。来源：美国海军

 

A combination of costs, capability, and form factor will drive the development of ship’s mast, with the clear trend in Europe for integrated designs for both future warships, but also the potential addition during mid-life upgrades of existing surface combatants.

成本、能力和外形因素的结合将推动舰船桅杆的发展，欧洲未来军舰的集成设计趋势明显，但在现有水面舰艇的中期升级期间也有可能增加。

 

Climate is also likely to be a factor, with maintenance requirements also a consideration as navies seek to balance sensor effect with costs, as well as the requirement cooling for radars and other systems housed inside an integrated structure. 

气候也可能是一个因素，维护要求也是一个考虑因素，因为海军寻求平衡传感器效应与成本，以及集成结构内雷达和其他系统的冷却要求。