ASW Sensors & Proc

Abstract

The Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Sensors and Processing project provides the tools and methods necessary to maintain naval superiority by preventing threat submarines from disrupting the U.S. Navy's ability to control the sea lines of communication and completing their hostile missions. This project encompasses the Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase and the follow on increments of sensor systems to improve the mission effectiveness of airborne ASW platforms in cueing, searching, localizing, tracking, and attacking subsurface targets. Smaller and quieter threat submarines drive the requirement for continued advancement in ASW sensor capabilities for both blue water and littoral environments. The littoral regions of the world create an additional ASW challenge to overcome the increase in background clutter caused by the shallow water depth, high volume of shipping, and commercial radio frequency interference. Project 0480 provides funding to the Extended Echo Ranging family of multi-static active ASW systems for the engineering development of solutions that detect, classify, and track threat submarines. Multi-static Active Coherent (MAC) and Advanced Processing Builds (APB) are efforts funded during the period identified. The MAC program, which started in FY08, encompasses the development of an active coherent (electronic) source sonobuoy, modifications to the existing Air Deployable Active Receiver sonobuoy, development, integration, and test of aircraft avionics software and MAC system. It also provides upgrades to the Multi-static mission planning tool, the Tactical Operational Readiness Trainer and the Tactical Ground Replay System. MAC provides a large area search capability in all water environments and will eliminate current impulsive source safety, training, and Rules of Engagement restrictions. Project 0480 also provides funding for the APB program which provides software enhancements for signal processing improvements, clutter reduction, automation, improved displays and controls, as well as improved communication links for reduced operator workload resulting in increased target detection and classification capabilities and interoperability. APB also includes an Air ASW Engineering Measurement Program that collects ASW system data and identifies areas where beneficial improvements can be made and provides common software and hardware solutions across all Air ASW platforms. The 1500 sonobuoy test articles in FY10/12 will support software and hardware integration flight tests and Technical Evaluation/Operational Evaluation for MAC Increment I and Increment II respectively. Also included in this project is funding to conduct testing for safe carriage and release to obtain P-3 flight certification of the Acoustic to Radio Frequency (A2RF) Air variant communications buoy in support of the PMW-770 Communications at Speed and Depth program for underwater communications with a submerged submarine.

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Document Details

Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2012
Source ID
0480_0604261N_5_1319_PB_2012

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems

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