BUSS - AN ADVANCED CONCEPT FOR ASW SEARCH AND SURVEILLANCE

OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE SOVIET SUBMARINE FORCE HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY QUIETER, MAKING DETECTION AND TRACKING BY CONVENTIONAL METHODS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. THIS TREND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE. GREATLY IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPENSATE FOR LOSS OF ASW SEARCH CAPABILITY. BUSS (BUOYANT UNDERSEA SEARCH SYSTEM) IS A NOVEL APPROACH TO ADDRESSING THE ASW SEARCH AND SURVEILLANCE PROBLEM IN BOTH THE OPEN OCEAN AND UNDER ICE. IT APPEARS TO OFFER POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL AND COST ADVANTAGES OVER OTHER PROPOSED SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM. PRB ASSOCIATES, INC. PROPOSES TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF THE BUSS CONCEPT, ADDRESSING OPERATIONAL, TECHNICAL AND COST ISSUES.