Japan orders diver-held sonars

photo didson.com

LAKE FOREST PARK, Wash., Nov. 8 (UPI)

Japan's military has ordered 17 Didson diver-held sonar systems from U.S. company Sound Metrics Corp.

In their search for disaster victims immediately following the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March, the military, state and local agencies routinely deployed equipment on loan from Sound Metrics.

While the Japanese military had access to many new technologies for search-and-recovery operations, it was the Didson's ease of use and near video-like imagery that led the military to order 17 units that will be placed with agencies at ports around the country, the company said.

"Sound Metrics is committed to getting our technology in the hands of agencies and individuals that can make a difference," Sound Metrics' General Manager Richard Morris said.

Sound Metrics designed and manufactures the Didson brand of acoustic imaging sonars. In addition to the autonomous diver-held unit, which has a high-definition mask-mounted heads-up display, all Sound Metrics sonars are dual frequency -- the lower frequency to reach out farther and find targets, the higher frequency for closer detailed inspection and identification.