Novella - Sea Dragon system. Short review.

The Novella anti-submarine and maritime reconnaissance system (export name 'Sea Dragon') was developed by 'Leninets' (San Petersburg) and intended for Tu-142, Ka-27 and Il-38 modernization. The Sea Dragons variants were named 1SD (for A-40 'Albatros' and Tu-204P), 2SD (for Il-38), SD(H) (Ka-27), 4SD (light planes and UAVs). The weight of SD(H) is only 220 kg. The system has magnetic, electro-optical, IR, acoustic, radar and ESM subsystems. 

The low-light-level TV and FLIR are installed in a stabilized turret. Two fields of view 2 x 2 and 9 x 12 deg with a tracking rate of up to 20 deg/sec. Other source reports about 5 optic windows. In addition the aircraft has an IR sensor for initial submarine detection based on water surface temperature – something very useful, if the enemy subs have conventional or MESMA propulsion. The TV-FLIR system can track targets detected by the radar too.

In a pod above the cockpit it has a new ELINT with a 2000-signature threat library, searching in 6.5 – 40 GHz diapason. DF accuracy is 0.5 – 3 deg, and frequency measurement accuracy is 1 MHz in 360 deg. Leninets offers 4 alternative coherent klystron radars with different power and range between 15 and 320 km for surface targets and 20 – 90 km for air targets. Il-38 2SD variant has capability for detecting naval targets up to range of radio-horizont, air targets – on 350 km. The helo's SD(H) variant – has 200 km detection range for a destroyer and 60 – for a fighter.

Magnetic sensor is placed in the tail and can detect the magnetic anomaly from the 900 km distance.

Radio-hydro-acoustic system uses passive buoys (RGB-41E, RGB-48E) active (GB-58E) and radio-tech (RTB-93E) buoys.

Each sensor has its own digital processing computer. A central mission control computer units maintain the system tactical picture and help for weapon use. The computer power is 3.3 GOPS. It can track up to 32 targets. It's open-architecture design around 1553B bus with 2 two-operator workstations (Il-38) using BARCO MPRD-132 displays. All displays have access to all sensor output. A third workstation is for a navigator. It has a single large display.  

In 2003 Russian Navy has 35 Il-38s with 10 of them in Northern Fleet, 15 – on the Pacific and 5 – in the training centre, Pskov.  All of the serving Il-38, Ka-27PL and Tu-142 will be upgraded with Novella's variants.

Il-38 can carry

Total weapon - 5000 kg:

  

2 Sea Eagle AShMs 

Anti-submarine torpedoes AT-1, AT-2 and more advanced

10 depth-charges PLAB-250

8 naval mine AMD-2

 Range – 9500 km

Only open sources both foreign and Russian were used for this review