Submarine Low Cost Littoral Water Sonar Passive Localization System

The new joint mission scenarios and stealth interdiction objectives for the U.S. Navy have resulted in the need for improved sensor systems for operations in the littoral environment. A High Frequency Towed Array (HFRA) sonar system, operating in the same frequency band as hull mounted systems, provides better detection, classification, and localization capabilities,and reduces ship maneuverability restrictions relative to the existing towed array systems. The proposed HFTA also provides collateral application in that the system can be deployed from submarines or surface ships for tactical or survey missions, or moored horizontally or vertically to the ocean floor for monitoring marine traffic and environmental conditions. The Phase I analysis and HFTA conceptual design efforts will be performed based on over 25 years of direct experience with towed array system development and our recent delivery of a high frequency towed measurement array system to the Navy. The HFTA design will rely heavily on NDI and OOTS components employed in the towed measurement array resulting in a low risk development program. Phase !I will then develop an Advance Development Model (ADM) system with the lowest possible cost for full scale, at-sea performance demonstration and verification.