USW Decision Support

Abstract

Undersea Warfare Decision Support System (USW-DSS) is the Navy Program of Record Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Command and Control (C2) Net-Centric system supporting the warfighter. USW-DSS provides an integrated, near-real time, net-centric ASW Common Tactical Picture (CTP) and Common Operational Picture (COP) for the Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs). USW-DSS is a C2 capability identified in the ASW Initial Capabilities Document (ICD), for the Sea Combat Commander (SCC) and Theater USW Commander (TUSWC). USW-DSS enables effective planning and execution of USW operations, optimizes placement of sensors for exploitation of the environment, manages available resources, balances operations versus risk, and provides a clear vulnerability assessment of the operational environment. USW-DSS ensures safe operational and tactical C2 of submerged U.S. and allied submarines via Prevention of Mutual Interference (PMI) capability, and protects from blue-on-blue engagement with a Waterspace Management planning and execution tool. USW-DSS shortens C2 decision processes for detection-to-engagement across multiple platforms, including those with low-bandwidth communications or intermittent connectivity. Tactical data such as tracks, environmental, and sensor processing data is ingested into USW-DSS through platform specific interfaces such as the AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Surface Ship ASW Combat System, the Global Command and Control System - Maritime (GCCS-M), and the AN/SQQ-34 Aircraft Carrier Tactical Support Center (CV-TSC). USW-DSS processes this and other tactical data and supports intelligent dissemination of the data to unit and theater level platforms in support of an enhanced USW tactical picture. USW-DSS provides USW Commanders with an expanded, net-centric USW collaborative capability across CSG platforms (CVNs, CGs, DDGs) as well as supporting shore nodes to include Commander Task Force (CTF), the Naval Oceanographic Processing Facility (NOPF), and Tactical Operations Center (TOC) and Maritime Operations Center (MOC). On afloat platforms, USW-DSS processing software is virtualized for portability and is hosted on the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) system and implements a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) with display generation and operator interfaces provided via USW-DSS hardware. For support and ashore nodes, USW-DSS processing software is hosted on Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) hardware. Future USW-DSS capability is phased to deliver timely and cost-effective software improvements to the warfighter via the Fleet Capability Release (FCR) process. USW-DSS Build 3 FCR incremental developments implement cost-effective cyber security and Theater ASW (TASW) functionality by integrating inputs from data sources and platforms such as the P8-A Poseidon aircraft and associated Air ASW sensors, provide improved and additional functionality, and improve stability and reliability. USW-DSS Build 3 provides common and improved visualization, integrated USW platform sensor data sharing, reduced data entry, improved sensor performance predictions, data fusion, and reduced redundancy across USW Tactical Decision Aids (TDAs). The project provides a greater understanding of the undersea battle space by allowing the entire force (carrier and expeditionary strike group, theater, or other) to have a common and thorough understanding of the battle space with characterized uncertainties. The Navy continues to modernize and add sensor capabilities to existing programs of record that are significant data sources of information for USW-DSS. These include, but are not limited to the AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Surface Ship ASW Combat System, AN/SQQ-34 CV-TSC, GCCS-M, and the Distributed Common Ground System - Navy (DCGS-N). As the sensor capabilities and systems mature, the tactical data valuable to USW-DSS is incorporated as part of a future FCR. Through targeted architectural improvements, follow-on FCRs will facilitate the migration of select components of USW-DSS to a DoD commercial cloud computing environment, thus improving software performance and scalability while keeping future hardware costs in check. Additionally, follow-on FCRs are targeted to support operations across different security enclaves and additional platform tactical data interfaces such as those associated with P-8A Poseidon aircraft, submarine, and Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS) fixed sensors. Additionally, USW-DSS is adopting agile Information Technology (IT) developments to align with the Compile to Combat in 24 Hours (C2C24) initiative. USW-DSS will continue to address end of life (EOL) support issues impacting USW-DSS Build 3 as well as address emerging mandated cybersecurity requirements. Funding will be used to continue to develop, design, integrate, and test additional USW-DSS tools/capabilities for Build 3 including, but not limited to: Waterspace Management and PMI, Common Track Manager, Link 16 Connectivity, CTP, Platform Data Fusion Integration, Cross-Platform Data Fusion, Automated Asset Allocation, Asset/Threat State Information, Vulnerability Analysis enhancement, ASW Track Management, Automated Re-planning, Area Planning, improved TASW capabilities, Data-Focused Navy Tactical Cloud Integration, and virtualization of the electronic Master Tactical Plot (eMTP) visualization/display service as 'Web USW-DSS' on which to render the CTP/COP. These improvements address requirements from the Commander U.S. Fleet Forces endorsement of "Theater ASW Capability Requirements" letter (dated 24 February 2017).

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2023
• Source ID: 3094_0604518N_5_1319_PB_2023

Tags

Fields of Study

• Engineering

Readers

• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies

Technology Areas

• Cyber
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Microelectronics
• Space