Anti-Terrorism - Technologies for Asymmetric Naval Warfare: Survivability and Denial

Technology Area: Ship Perimeter Defense TechnologiesThe ships in the United States Navy are each tangible symbols of this nations power and influence in the world. As such they encourage friends and allies but will most certainly attract terrorists and enemies who run a constant effort to damage the UnitedStates. This kind of terrorism had its most recent precedent in the attack on the USS Cole nearly two years ago. The challenge for the warfighter in preventing another Cole incident is distinguishing a terrorist from the host of other potential intruders.These may include incompetent boaters, craft manned by curious onlookers and even protesters, all within the complicated and multinational setting of foreign harbors and waterways. SARA's Determinator concept, which is based in SARA's high power acousticbeam technology, forces a craft to either turn about or proceed into increasing levels of deterrence (from mild warning to pain). Craft that proceed through the highest levels of deterrent demonstrate intent and commitment, and promote themselves to lethalresponse. In Phase I SARA proposes to mature its current, successful lab prototype into a rugged and portable demonstrator system with import to ship defense. The potential benefits of the Determinator technology include military and commercial ship defense in harbors and waterways as well as commercial defense of off shore installations. The potential benefits also include land based applications such asmilitary MOUT scenarios and riot control operations by civilian police agencies.