June 27, 2001, For Immediate Release

CTFM MAKES A COMEBACK …..

EL CAJON, CALIFORNIA, USA.   Sunwest Technologies, Inc.  reports that two of its new high-resolution, long-range SS300 CTFM Sonars have been delivered to HARBOR BRANCH OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTE (HBOI) for the SEALINK manned subs.

An SS300 sonar was recently delivered to WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTE (WHOI)  for the ALVIN deep diving submersible, and six of the sonars were delivered to Oceaneering, Upper Marlboro, for installation on U.S. Navy SUPSAL ROVs,  DEEP DRONE, CURV, and MAGNUM.     

The SS300’s passive mode and long-range capability (3000 Ft.)  permit the operator to detect and close on emergency beacons when aircraft are lost at sea.  According to the Sunwest spokesman, few other systems offer such capability. CTFM also permits fast information rate (28 deg / second) and the audio tone is proportional to target range.  CTFM sonar was widely used on ROVs and manned submersibles during the 70s and 80s. The new digital SS300 replaces early CTFM systems, many installed nearly 25 years ago.  Unlike the earlier CTFMs, data can now be stored on the host computer’s hard drive for later analysis as may be required for search operations and bottom surveys. 

The market demand for the SS300 CTFM has been so great that new systems have been placed into production well ahead of planned schedule.