Programs in APL’s Undersea Warfare Business area support U.S. Navy and Joint missions that constitute this vital defense component. This work focuses on the systems and technologies of undersea military applications, helping maintain the security of our strategic and tactical submarines. Our staff represents a broad set of skills and capabilities from science to engineering. The Laboratory is nationally recognized for its expertise in submarine detection systems based on first principles of physics, as well as our ability to build and test undersea prototype systems. We are a major test organization, conducting extensive, complex R&D operations at sea. As submarine missions have changed over time, APL has continued to be a dependable partner with extensive knowledge of sponsor requirements and the experience to meet the challenges of today’s undersea warfare environment.
Programs in the Applied Maritime Technology area are anchored in the core competencies of sensors and information systems. Our work includes Sensors and Signal Processing, Data Fusion, Command & Control, and System Engineering Concepts. Technology families important to the Applied Maritime Technology include sensors and sensor systems; signal processing; information management; modeling and simulation; system analysis, test, and evaluation; and system engineering..
Acoustic Rapid Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Insertion is the upgrade sonar system to be installed on virtually all submarines. APL participates in all aspects of development and testing, providing leadership for sonar working groups that direct the development and testing of next-generation technology. The Lab made significant contributions measuring the performance of tactical surface and submarine sonars, providing new insights into the sensor impacts on the development tactical information. Recent testing with Fleet operators assessed the performance of two generations of tactical sonar systems. Analysis results indicate significantly improved performance with the newer system. This program is a notable example of using the advances in processing power available commercially to enhance ASW capabilities. APL's success with this build-test-build methodology has applicability to all undersea warfare platforms and systems, especially for sensors, the next major hurdle to achieving better detection performance. We are leading efforts to extend the ARCI process to the surface and air components of undersea warfare.
The Maritime Surveillance System (MSS) comprises fixed, mobile, and deployable acoustic arrays that provide vital tactical cueing to ASW forces. The program has undergone a major transition from emphasis on maintaining a large dispersed surveillance force keyed to detection and tracking of Soviet submarines to a much smaller force that is effective against modern diesel and nuclear submarines in regional/littoral or broad ocean areas of interest.
APL is continuing to extend System Engineering and Technical Support to develop a common processor based on NAVSEA'S Acoustic Rapid COTS Insertion (ARCI) program. The Integrated Common Processor (ICP) will have the capability to process and display data from all fixed and mobile underwater systems. The development of the ICP will take advantage of automation advancement, array technology improvements, hardware insertions and the common software components of the submarine and surface USW systems. Additionally, SURTASS is consolidating on the TB-29A/TL array, a variant of the Submarine TB-29A Long line array. Future efforts will be focused on upgrading the LFA capability to the ICP baseline, support bi-static processing utilizing the TL-29A, support activation of fixed sensors, and develop smaller, lighter weight acoustic sensors.
The Navy's Engineering Measurement Programs (EMP) evaluate the effectiveness of technology after it has been put into Fleet use. As the lead for the EMP, APL ensures an objective analysis methodology based on data collected in real-world operations and provides rapid feedback to improve system processes. These efforts include planned upgrades through the foreseeable future.
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