site.btaBulgarian Navy Acquires Two New Autonomous Underwater Vehicles under US Dept of Defense Program

Two new UUV Teledyne Gavia autonomous underwater vehicles were received by the Bulgarian Navy's Hydrographic Service The acquisition was made under the US Department of Defense's programme for developing the capabilities of partners and a contract with the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, the Ministry said here on Friday. 

The underwater vehicles are designed to carry out hydrographic surveys in the coastal zone with a large operating depth of up to 1,000 meters. They can be used both for scientific purposes and in the interests of defence. They consist of separate modules and are easy to service. It is possible to operate them from a vessel, with the possibility of upgrading them with additional instrumentation and sensors, the Bulgarian Defence Ministry said.

The received devices are equipped with Teledyne SeaBat T-20 multibeam and Teledyne Benthos Sub Bottom Profiler seabed echograph. Two additional mine warfare sonar modules and an anti-submarine warfare training module are included. High-precision navigation of the hydrographic surveys is ensured by the presence of a GPS receiver, an inertial navigation system and a Doppler-lag.

Bulgaria is the first country to receive the full package of Teledyne Gavia UUV modules, the Ministry noted.

Between October 3 and 31 of this year specialists from the Teledyne company are conducting a course on maintenance and operation of underwater vehicles at the Hydrographic Service of the Navy. The training includes theoretical part, practical work and training at sea. 

The course will end with training on servicing and maintenance of the newly acquired equipment.