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34 st / July 2014 www.sea-technology.com backshells are designed for industry standard MK2 PBOF hose fttings. A quick review of the currently available dry mate connectors in the marketplace will show that a majority are ftted with single-seal designs, and are not open-face pressure rated. Also, these are based on a historical design approach and are generally suited for overmolded terminations. The Elite Dry Mate Connector is the frst dry mate connector designed from the ground up as a dual-sealed, high-reliability dry mate connector, suitable for the oil and gas, oceanographic and defense indus- tries. Because of the modular design of this connector, the backshell design can accommodate any of the popular termination methodologies, includ- ing MK2 termination for a PBOF hose, gland sealed to a hard cable, over- molded to a hard cable, and FITA. Regarding fber optics, this new product again leaps forward and resets the bar for dry mate optical perfor- mance. With today's distributed sens- ing systems demanding very low back refection, the Elite series is offered with both UPC polished contacts, as well as angled physical contacts (APC) and f- ber-optic contacts. Angled contacts of- fer substantially lower back refection and make this dry mate connector a winning product for distributed sensing system designers. Conclusion The Elite Next-Generation Dry Mate connector is off and running in the market and has now been provided for three ocean projects. The frst project is a shore cable connection to an offshore observatory for a subsea node connec- tion. This has both power and data con- nections via a hybrid cable. A second project is a towed instrument connec- tion system for a government research program with load termination, power, serial and coax connections. A third project involves a blind mate connec- tion system. This exciting new product is poised to enter both military and oil and gas markets and improve the sta- tus quo. The Elite Series takes stock of where the industry is, considers risk elements and provides a fully updated design, with options that ft industry needs, while reducing risk. References For a list of references, contact Dave Jenkins at david.jenkins@am- etek.com. n Dave Jenkins, P.E., M.S.M.E., M.A. is the vice presi- dent of business development at AMETEK SCP. He has more than 35 years of experience in oceano- graphic and subsea equipment and systems from the U.S. Navy and commercial oceanography. Jen- kins has held leadership positions in program man- agement, business development and operations at Ocean Design, Northrop Grumman, DRS and SEA CON. "This exciting new product is poised to enter both military and oil and gas markets and improve the status quo."