Radio techniques developed for radar and later for radio-astronomy were adopted to submarine acoustics to achieve beam forming and steering. This gave the prospect of accurate bearing determination and the rejection of unwanted signals; thus greater sensitivity and longer ranges were achievable.

These researches[58] provided the background for the development of a number of underwater devices applicable to the future needs of the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. Included in these was an item which could be dropped by parachute from a maritime reconnaissance aircraft into the sea and then communicate submarine information to the parent aircraft. The requirement to include in a canister of manageable size a folded antenna array of hydrophones, a signal recording and analysis system, a radio transmitter and aerial, and a power supply was a technological challenge beyond the then state of the art.

To meet these stringent demands, WRE engineers made pioneering contributions to microcircuitry and miniaturization. Project NANGANA was the development of this experimental concept which was successfully demonstrated with the assistance of the Navy and the RAAF. Out of this technology came the project BARRA, which is described later.

Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering