Submarine Supt Equip Prog
Abstract
FY21 funding increases for two efforts to support Electronic Warfare development to pace the expanding threat posed in this area of warfare. First, funding for development of AN/BLQ-10 Technical Insertions (TI) and Advanced Processor Build (APB) is increased by $6.3M to support new technology development and incorporation including a new Communications Acquisition and Direction Finding capability on the SSN 21 and 688 class ships and integrating advanced payloads into the AN/BLQ-10 system to provide for rapid expansion of capabilities and expanding the submarine ability to control the RF spectrum. These efforts to incorporate new technologies such as payloads will be ongoing. Level funding will support development of a digital server-based wide band capability that will allow the AN/BLQ-10 to meet probability of intercept requirements, meet recording requirements and improve the capability of on-board training to improve operator efficiency. Secondly, development of a PATRIOT Phase C RADAR increases funding by $2.6M to improve the capability and stealth of this critical technology which provides operational commanders covert RADAR capabilities but requires a refreshed design to counter current counter-detection threats. The Submarine Support Equipment Program (SSEP) is responsible for the development and improvement of submarine Electronic Warfare (EW) systems in support of effective operations in the following mission areas: Joint Littoral Warfare; Joint Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR), Indications and Warnings; Electronic Warfare; Information Operations including Cyber; and Special Operations Force (SOF) support. The rapid proliferation of complex radar, communications and navigation equipment available to potential adversaries creates an increasingly dense and sophisticated electromagnetic environment. Sustained and significant improvements to submarine EW systems are required to maintain tactical ship safety and operational effectiveness. As such, EW was raised to a submarine primary mission area in FY2012 by Commander Submarine Forces, and EW is listed as a Tier 1 modernization requirement by the Submarine Tactical Requirements Group (STRG). - TI-22 provides the same critical update to 688i and SEAWOLF class ships as TI-20 provided to the VA Class. Additionally, TI-22 looks to improve the high-speed network and signal distribution systems developed in TI-20 as well as integrate new generations of EW Payloads. Funding is critical to developing enabling technologies that will provide maximized electronic spectrum digitization and processing, allowing Submarine EW system to continue to pace the threat. The EW environment is increasingly complex and crowded. The paradigms, algorithms, and analogue systems the Navy has relied on for decades are no longer able to maintain tactical relevance in the digital era of low power radars with digital waveforms. Tactical decision makers are unable to maintain awareness of the EW spectrum with current systems. Without significant investment in TI-22, the Submarine Navy will not be able to maintain littoral presence, conduct Anti-Access Area Denial operations, coordinated strike operations, joint ISR, and SOF support. - The MMM Payload will be developed in three successive generations adding capability to pace the threat. The first generation provides Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) capability. The second generation is planned to add Tactical Data Link (TDL) Communications to the UAS mission. The third generation will add Coherent Electronic Attack (CEAS) and improve the ranges and reliability of previous Gen 1 and Gen 2 mission sets. - PATRIOT Phase C RADAR improves upon the PATRIOT by updating components for obsolescence, reducing adversary detectability, and improving reliability. PATRIOT RADAR provides a covert RADAR capability for submarines when submerged. - APB-21 continues to bring new capabilities to the AN/BLQ-10 system: Voice to Text, improved Direction Finding for Photonics Masts, EW contact followers, and passive ranging techniques.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2021
- Source ID
- 0775_0604503N_5_1319_PB_2021
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