Technology Development for a Multi-Mission Passive Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Turret Capability

The electro-optic passive ASW system (EPAS) is a research-and-development, packaged, passive electro-optic camera system in a 16-inch turret developed for use by the Navy in ocean surface and subsurface imaging. The core of EPAS consists of four different non-acoustic detection technologies integrated into a single system. EPAS components are: (1) a 12-channel visible multi-spectral imager, (2) a three-channel low-light-level spectral detector, (3) a three-channel low-light zoomed camera, and (4) a mid-wave (3-5 micron) infrared (IR) detector. Currently, the EPAS multi-spectral imager does not take advantage of polarization or handle the negative effects of sea surface foam on system imaging performance. Significant reduction of false alarms and enhancement of the probability of detection are expected if these effects are understood. Twelve individual cameras are used to collect the visible multi-spectral data. The proposed effort will develop the understanding of these effects needed to evaluate the achievable performance benefits. Sensor polarizer options and data processing algorithms will be developed that will potentially result in a new, smaller system with optimized beam splitting. BENEFITS: Improved performance and reduction in the size of the multispectral imaging system will lead to an opportunity to transition the developed product directly to the EPAS program during its acquisition cycle. There is also the potential for transition to other air platforms, such as multi-mission aircraft (MMA) such as the P-8A and the H-60. Also of considerable potential is possible miniaturization to facilitate system installation on smaller unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). Airborne multi-spectral sensing has many commercial applications including fish population tracking, effluent detection and tracking, and search and rescue.