The European Defence Agency (EDA) has launched a four-year research project to reduce the noise produced by autonomous underwater vehicles, aiming to boost naval stealth and limit the impact of human-made sound on marine life.
The SPHYDA (Submarine Hull/Rudder/Propeller Hydrodynamics Interaction and Hydroacoustics) project brings together four EU Member States and Norway, with Italy as lead nation, along with Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. There are nine industrial and research partners.
The consortium will develop advanced numerical models and experimental methods to predict and analyse how hull shapes, rudders and propellers generate noise. SPHYDA, a €4.8 million programme, runs until late 2029. It seeks to provide higher-fidelity simulations and improved measurement techniques to help designers build quieter and more efficient underwater platforms. The project also supports compliance with EU environmental rules.
The initiative builds on earlier EDA projects and EU-funded projects, focused on propeller noise and hydrodynamic performance, while broadening the scope to whole-vehicle acoustics. It also supports wider European capability priorities in underwater warfare, as well as complementing NATO research on sonar and autonomous systems.
The project will design and construct an autonomous underwater vehicle to carry out towing-tank experiments and manoeuvring-basin tests. It will conduct outdoor trials to measure far-field noise under realistic conditions.
Reducing radiated noise is increasingly important for navies seeking to avoid detection. Quieter vehicles offer a tactical advantage by reducing the range at which enemy sonar can identify them. SPHYDA is expected to deliver tools, datasets and design guidelines to support the next generation of low-noise underwater vehicles.
“SPHYDA is a crucial step toward developing the capability to diagnose and predict the complex hydrodynamic mechanisms responsible for the generation and propagation of noise from underwater vehicles in real operating conditions,” said Riccardo Broglia, Research Director at the Institute of Marine Engineering of the Italian National Research Council, the project manager.
The consortium:
EDA’s broader role
Founded in 2004, the Agency helps fostering defence cooperation across Europe. It serves as the hub for EU countries to develop their defence capabilities together. EDA’s activities span from harmonising requirements and developing operational capabilities to research, technology, innovation, training, and supporting EU military operations. The Agency also works closely with the EU defence industry to strengthen Europe’s technological and industrial base.