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

The program objective is to develop innovative miniaturized sensors capable of outputting a single impulsive signal, or multiple smaller impulses, in sequential fashion for the purpose of conducting multi-static ASW missions. Most ASW aircraft utilize A-size (4.875”D x 36”L) sources. While these A-size sources are effective, the weight and volume constraints of the MH-60R helicopter, UAV platforms, along with the littoral ASW threat of quiet diesel-electric submarines in noisy environments, require an aggressive approach to miniaturizing sensors to allow for the deployment of denser fields. The requirement is to carry a greater number of sensors enabling adequate field performance in spite of inevitably short detection ranges for passive and active vulnerabilities. The following potential areas of technology development have been identified: • Miniaturization of the decelerator and floatation functionality • Miniaturization of payload chemistry, deployment and initiation methodology • Miniaturization of the transmitter/receiver to fit in the MJU-10 form factor. • Miniaturization of the power source technology PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The small size, low cost, and standardized form factor will enable use of these sensors for marine mammal surveys, commercial harbor defense, and drug interdiction of high speed drug smuggling vessels. BENEFITS: The miniature acoustic sensor being dweveloped here will provide dramatic weight reductions tha will simplify deployment and logistics operations in support of the Navy's planned dense field multi-static ASW missions. The technology will also be valuable to the underwater scientific community and of particular interest to homeland defense, drug interdiction, as well as ASW programs