BAE Systems Submarine Solutions will deploy a Brüel & Kjær hull vibration monitoring equipment (HVME) solution on the UK Royal Navy submarine, HMS Audacious.

The HVME system will monitor and analyse both hull vibration and hydrodynamic noise generated in the submarine to maintain a low noise signature.

The acquisition and vibration monitoring system is based on Brüel & Kjær’s commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) sensors and PULSE data acquisition and analysis platform.

The PULSE modular and scalable platform includes the network-based LAN-XI module to provide a distributed architecture, installation flexibility and reduced amounts of sensor cabling.

The 7,400t HMS Audacious is the fourth Astute Class, nuclear-powered attack submarine designed for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, command and control surveillance, intelligence gathering, humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions.

The Astute Class submarines will replace the navy’s aging Type 22 Swiftsure and Type 23 Trafalgar Class submarines.