Target Localization Using Multi-Static Sonar with Drifting Sonobuoys

Future Air ASW will be conducted at higher altitudes, making visual, Mark-On-Top and RF techniques less accurate for receiver localization. What is needed are techniques that can provide buoy and target localization using just acoustic information. Alternatives such as installing GPS receivers in the sonobuoys suffer from either high cost or are easily jammed. Traditional acoustic stabilization techniques rely on the direct blast arrival information and can only update the relative geometry of the sensor field. Absolute positions depend on initial drop accuracy which at high altitude is going to be challenging. Field level ocean currents will also introduce errors that traditional acoustic buoy stabilization techniques cannot overcome. Signal Systems Corporation proposes to mature a new and innovative acoustic approach of buoy and target localization to provide absolute target geo-location without visual, RF or GPS inputs.