Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Mission Package

Abstract

The ASW MP enables LCS to conduct detect-to-engage operations against submarines. Specific ASW capabilities include protecting forces in transit, protecting joint operating areas, and establishing ASW barriers. The ASW MP provides the warfighter capabilities that can be employed for ASW area search as well as high value unit escort missions. Key components of the ASW MP include a Variable Depth Sonar, a Multi-Function Towed Array and sonar signal processing. The individual systems are combined into modules: an ASW Escort Mission Module (EMM) that provides High Value Unit (HVU) escort capability and an Aviation Module that offers airborne threat localization and engagement capability through a MH-60R with MK54 torpedoes. This project delivered the ASW EMM Pre-Production Test Article (PPTA) and the Aviation Module in Q1 FY 2019. Following the delivery of the PPTA, the ASW MP was installed on board a Freedom variant hull in Q4 FY 2019, to support Developmental Testing (DT) and Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOT&E) to support Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in FY 2020. Following integration and testing onboard a Freedom variant, this project will transition to production in FY 2020. Due to a shift in test platform from LCS 4 to LCS 22, Independence variant ASW MP testing will complete later in FY22 than previously reported. The ASW MP performance will be demonstrated during the Freedom variant testing and will achieve IOC in FY20. Because the ASW MP is embarked with its own sonar signal processing capability, Independence variant testing is focused on the physical integration and employment/recovery. The ASW MP will take advantage of improvements developed under the submarine Advanced Processing Build (APB), Advanced Surveillance Build (ASB) and Advanced Capability Build (ACB) and will in turn share unique improvements developed under this program with the submarine, surface combatants, and surveillance ASW communities. All programs (ACB, ASB, and APB) are managed under a common development process and titled AxB. While the LCS ASW MP will retains its uniqueness and focus in functional domains essential to mission package success, a premium is placed on development of common capabilities and modular architecture technologies to maximize commonality and cost effectiveness. The Open System Architecture (OSA) and high performance Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) sonar processing hardware, provided as an adjunct to the Mission Package Computing Environment (MPCE), will be fielded with the ASW MP and will provide an opportunity to integrate emergent, transformational ASW technological improvements that were previously unachievable. The ASW MP will require periodic upgrades to remain effective well into the 21st century and to pace the threat. Software upgrades target capability increases in high interest areas as prescribed by the Fleet and captured in campaign analysis. To achieve this, this project will package and deliver incremental upgrades every four years to the ASW MP baseline via an ACB development process by inserting maturing Undersea Warfare (USW) technologies and addressing hardware technology obsolescence.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2021
• Source ID: 2551_0603596N_4_1319_PB_2021

Tags

Readers

• Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies
• Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.

Technology Areas

• 5G
• 5G - DoD 5G Program
• 5G - Internet of Things