Multistatic Operationally Distributed Sonar System (MODSS) Capability Demonstration

The effort conducted in Phase I concluded that a robust harbor underwater surveillance system capable of identifying and tracking Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs), based around advancing existing mid-to-high frequency swimmer detection sonar technology, is feasible but extremely challenging. It will require a heterogeneous, distributed, integrated, and multistatic approach, with a level of system design and optimization that has yet to be achieved. Our ability to accurately associate multistatic target returns across all receivers, in real-time and with very low target signal return levels, will be key to success. This will necessitate significant advancements in our ability to model, simulate, and predict the acoustic field, and thereby the performance of a distributed sonar system in a harbor environment. Overcoming these challenges is the overall goal of the Multistatic Operationally Distributed Sonar System (MODSS) program. The MODSS Capability Demonstration proposed under the SBIR Phase II is a proof-of-concept experiment for the MODSS using existing hardware.