Towed Array Straightening and Depth Control Systems

Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS) provide a critical Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) surveillance capability that helps the U.S. Navy maintain undersea dominance. During low speed operations, the unsteady nature of the tow environment causes the straightness (per line) and line-to-line separation of the array to deform from straight-line, constant separation cases which degrades the performance of the acoustic processing. As the tow speed decreases, the entire array sinks deeper and the tilt angle of the array increases, further degrading performance as well as putting the array at risk of damage from contacting the seafloor. Makai proposes to address the array straightness problem and bottom impact risks by developing two technologies, the SURTASS Array Straightening System (SASS) and the Depth Control Module (DCM) that can be clipped-on to existing TL29a arrays. Under the Phase I BASE effort, Makai will use CFD and high-fidelity and validated towed array modeling tools to design hydro-dynamically stable systems that meet the performance objectives and demonstrate a 1:2 scale prototype of SASS in waters off Makai Pier. In the Phase I OPTION period, interfaces with the twin-line array will be specified and the designs will be matured to support at-sea prototype demonstrations in Phase II.