Multi-variable Unmanned Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) system assessment

Emerging technologies are changing the calculus of Undersea Warfare (USW).  Advances in materials, computation, energy, information transport, and algorithms enable the development of high-performance USW sensors. This, in turn, enables the development of new USW systems, largely unmanned, that can be fielded in large numbers. In short. the classic acoustic detection problem is being complicated by new sensor modalities merged with drifting, stationary, and mobile systems.  These new capabilities confound traditional thinking about USW investment, operational planning, and tactical employment.  During the Phase I, Sonalysts designed and developed a proof-of-concept resource allocation optimization tool – the Force USW Allocation Optimizer (FUAO).  The FUAO is designed to assist Office of Naval Research (ONR) Science and Technology (S&T) managers during evaluation of performance capabilities and trade-offs among competing advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) technology investments.  The proof-of-concept toolkit compares unmanned systems with legacy manned systems along multiple dimensions of ASW performance and extracts non-dominated optimal system configurations from a user-specified operational scenario that can form the basis for extended technical capability analysis. Sonalysts, Inc.’s (Sonalysts) Phase II technical effort will focus on building out the Phase I FUAO proof-of-concept toolkit into a working decision support tool for ONR S&T managers. The Base period will 1) develop an approved set of workflows, software requirements, and user interface; 2) conduct software development; and 3) establish a transition plan for integration into USW Decision Support System (USW-DSS).  The goal is to have an FUAO suitable for integration into USW-DSS at the end of the Phase II Base period work.  The Phase II Option period will focus on extending FUAO capabilities (additional analytical tools) and commencing integration with USW-DSS. The Phase II technical work will advance Phase I development and begin work to integrate with USW-DSS.  Phase I work developed multiple use cases (e.g., ASW Barrier Search, Multiple System Comparison) with supporting criteria that require validation from the end user (e.g., ONR/Theater USW Commander (TUSWC)/Fleet).  The Phase II Base period will incorporate desired additions and modifications to existing use cases and fully develop FUAO requirements.  Phase II Base work will also look for end user validation on the models, databases, user interface, and software interfaces, and will integrate any necessary adjustments and/or additions.  Building the most robust and useful FUAO requires either integration to classified systems (e.g., USW-DSS) or installation on classified networks (e.g., SIPRNET), so that we can model the full set of ASW sensors and platform capabilities (Blue & Red Forces, both legacy and developmental), including operationally realistic environmental data.