DSIT Solutions, a subsidiary of Acorn Energy (NASDAQ: ACFN), has announced the introduction of the AquaShield Extended Range (ER) Swimmer delivery vehicle Detection Sonar (SDS) to its product line. The AquaShield ERTM was developed based on the best seller AquaShieldTM Diver Detection Sonar (DDS) which is widely used around the world to protect naval, commercial and energy sites and assets from underwater intrusion and sabotage.

The AquaShield ERTM was created by DSIT in response to the technology advances associated with Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDV), Diver Propulsion Vehicles (DPV) and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV). All of the above are much faster than the standard combat diver, thus significantly reducing the response time available when using conventional diver detection sonar systems.

The AquaShield ERTM offers unprecedented detection ranges against all threats including SDVs, Open and Closed Circuit Divers (CCD). Prior to its introduction, the AquaShield ERTM passed rigorous sea trials achieving detection ranges of up to 3,500m for Swimmer Delivery Vehicle targets, 1,800m for Open Circuit Divers and 1,200m for Divers using closed-circuit apparatus.

Dan Ben-Dov, DSIT’s VP Sales & Marketing commented: "We have been selling our AquaShield DDS system since 2007, but the AquaShield ERTM is a game changer in the field of underwater detection providing customers the detection and alarm ranges they wanted to see for many years. DSIT has made considerable investment in developing this unique application and I’m very confident that the market will appreciate its importance to the underwater security market. Even before its official introduction to the market, DSIT already received orders for three AquaShield ERTM units from two different customers."

DSIT’s CEO, Benny Sela said: "As technology advances we see a broader range of potential underwater threats, including SDVs and Midget Submarines, to coastal and offshore critical assets. We believe the AquaShield ERTM is the best solution to counter these threats. We have been working hard to be able to introduce this revolutionary product to our esteemed customer base. The benefit to our customers is not based only on the system’s remarkable detection ranges but also on the low cost per square meter of coverage. The AquaShield ERTM is joining today the respected Shield family of underwater security systems and will surely help us keep DSIT the leading company in this field."