With investments in Naval Defense increasing due to the changing geopolitical landscape, speed and innovation are more important than ever. All across the world, warships and systems need to be modernized, improved and maintained. If the industry is to catch up with current developments, manufacturers and suppliers in the Naval Defense sector will have to put in considerable effort.
On the one hand, parts must be delivered quickly, whilst meeting high-quality specifications, but on the other hand, navies want the latest, state-of-the-art innovations at their disposal, which will guarantee the sovereignty of NATO member countries at sea.
As a cable supplier for various navies, DeRegt Cables knows exactly how to develop innovative cable solutions quickly and efficiently. DeRegt has been active as a supplier and developer of various cable systems for over 90 years, including:
A lot is set to happen in the near future, especially when it comes to Remotely Operated Vehicles. There is a trend of increased investment in Remotely Operated Vehicles that can be deployed for various reconnaissance operations at sea, under water and in the air.
Jeroen Romijn, Naval Defense Systems Sales Manager at DeRegt, a Dutch cable company, talks about DeRegt and explains the role it plays as a producer and developer of high-quality navy cable solutions.
Which cable solutions does DeRegt currently supply to navies?
DeRegt supplies tailor-made cables for various sonar systems, with our cables for Towed array systems and Variable depth sonars being particularly successful. However, we also provide excellent cable solutions for Torpedo defense systems and Mine Counter Measure solutions.
Primarily, though, DeRegt provides a complete solution for cable systems, capable of assisting customers in cable design, cable production, qualification tests, terminations and, optionally, fairings. We are capable of providing turnkey cable solutions.
What does DeRegt make of the emerging demand for Remotely Operated Vehicles?
We are very enthusiastic about this market development and our expertise in various fields lets us help our customers achieve their goals. Many systems require special cables that we have considerable expertise in.
However, we have also identified opportunities for autonomous systems, which do not require a cable. Various parties are working on developing an underwater charging dock, where underwater vehicles can come to recharge and communicate, for instance. We can provide cables for these underwater charging docks, which leads to new chances and opportunities.
DeRegt is already a major player in the field of work-class ROVs. How does the company use this knowledge for the development of Naval Defense products?
When it comes to underwater operations, many of the challenges faced by the defense industry also apply to the offshore industry, which employs a lot of work-class ROVs. The operational challenges might be very different in nature, but because the environments in which the vehicles operate are similar, the same rules - such as water pressure or environmental conditions & circumstances - apply. Because we work in both markets, we frequently find that we can use the insights obtained in one market for the other. We have developed technologies to make ROV tether cables neutrally buoyant at a certain specific depth, for instance, but this technology can also be used in Towed Array cables for submarines.
To which suppliers does DeRegt supply cable solutions?
Generally speaking, we supply to large OEMs or prime contractors, such as Atlas Elektronik. In addition, we also supply directly to end users in the defense market, such as the Royal Netherlands Navy or the US Navy.
DeRegt has its own in-house testing facility. Why is this so important?
In the defense market, it is important that the end user can be sure that the systems will function perfectly in even the most challenging operational conditions. Subjecting our cable systems to extensive testing lets us provide this guarantee to our customers and their end users.
Many of the cable systems we manufacture have never been made or tried before, which is why it is important that we be able to test whether new technologies work the way they were intended ourselves.
Can you give some examples of Naval Defense cable solutions where DeRegt Cables truly made a difference?
With regard to defense projects, it is difficult to go into specifics about our design, due to the sensitive nature of this information. DeRegt, however, is particularly proud of its flexible terminations, which lets our customers coil cables and arrays on the same winch. This has the key advantage of reducing the overall footprint of the system, which means it will take up little space.
This year, DeRegt Cables will be attending Euronaval once more. Why should visitors definitely drop by the DeRegt stand?
We will be showcasing our flexible termination and our technologies for neutrally buoyant cables at Euronaval. We would love to tell visitors which advantages these technologies will have for sonar systems or Remotely Operated Vehicles.
It is our goal to enter into long-term relationships with our customers and to work together to develop innovative solutions. Visitors faced by specific cable-based challenges who are looking for more than just a supplier definitely should not hesitate to drop by!
DeRegt Cables at Euronaval from 23 to 26 October
You can meet DeRegt Cables at Euronaval, one of the largest Naval Defense fairs in the world, which will be held in Le Bourget, France in 2018. Will we see you there? Read more about DeRegt Cables at Euronaval
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