Miniaturized Commandable Impulsive Acoustic Source Technology for Multi-Static Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)

The Miniaturized Commandable Impulsive Acoustic Source Technology (MCIAST) SBIR topic that Navmar is performing will result in a small package size (MJU-10 form factor) that allows for a multistatic source capable of carriage and launch from volume and weight limited aircraft such as helicopters and UAVs. This package size is 2 in. X 2.5 in. X 8 in. in dimension, and weighs less than 3 lbs. and has the advantage of being a standard size for Department of Defense expendable items. For future ASW missions, this greatly improves the detection potential of helicopter-equipped ships, including the Navy’s new Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). Navmar’s approach further allows for selectable modes of operation, including single high source level impulses, multiple lower level impulses, or precisely timed M of N type impulses. This serves to provide great flexibility of a single source package, ranging from large area search, to localization, to potentially Doppler content from an impulsive source. Additionally, the volume reduction of 20:1 over the conventional A-size sonobuoy will greatly improve storage and handling issues aboard ships, with their constrained storage area, and reduce at-sea replenishment requirements.