Compact Towed Sonar Array

A major challenge facing the U.S. Navy’s Anti -Submarine Warfare (ASW) mission area is the ability to effectively detect, classify, localize and neutralize quiet modern submarines in shallow water. Current towed array sensors, including TB-23, TB-29A, TB-16 and MFTA, provide desired acoustic performance but are not optimal for deployment from an unmanned vehicle. Compatibility with these platforms requires significant reductions in sensor power, diameter, bend radius and production cost. The Compact Towed Array (CTA) SBIR Phase II effort will result in development of high-performance towed array components that provide multi-mission, directional sensing capabilities for submarine, surveillance, surface ship and unmanned vehicle towed arrays. All of the potential applications for CTA technology benefit because the superior performance acoustic sensors and electronics are small enough to provide a ubiquitous solution across the spectrum of fatline, thinline and ultra-thinline arrays. Multi-mission commonality is a primary goal for these high volume components that will provide cost savings throughout the entire supply chain starting with procurement and extending through life-cycle support. Development of next generation reliable compact towed arrays that can be stowed and deployed from multiple platforms supports the Sea Shield Pillar of Sea Power 21 while achieving substantial fleet life cycle cost savings.