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 systems. 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). The project conducted DT on USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) in FY 2020 and FY 2021 and is incorporating lessons learned from testing to improve ASW MP reliability and hydrodynamic stability. In FY 2021, design updates were incorporated to improve reliability and the project is undergoing hydrodynamic testing to increase performance in turns and at higher speeds. The ASW MP will continue hydrodynamic improvements in FY 2021 with White Ship Testing and will continue DT, TECHEVAL, and IOT&E on LCS 3 in FY 2021 and FY 2022, with IOC in Q3 FY 2022. The schedule to achieve IOC as presented in this budget submission assumes all testing to support the IOC decision is completed on LCS 3. ASW MP testing on Independence variant will be conducted following completion of testing on Freedom variant. The Program initiated ship design efforts in FY 2021 to integrate and install the ASW MP on Independence variant in preparation for testing. ASW MP performance will continue to be demonstrated on Freedom variant with hydrodynamic and LCS-based testing in FY 2021 and FY 2022, with IOC in Q3 FY 2022. Because the ASW MP is embarked with its own sonar signal processing system, 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 (APB, ASB, and ACB) are managed under a common development process and titled AxB. While the LCS ASW MP will retains its uniqueness, 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 signal 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 defined by the Fleet and are 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, 2022
• Source ID: 2551_0603596N_4_1319_PB_2022

Tags

Readers

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

Technology Areas

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