Expertise
APL's experience base evolved from our early role as technical agent for the SSBN Security Program. That work required an experienced staff knowledgeable in ocean physics, submarine operations, and a wide variety of engineering and analytical technologies. Since then, the Laboratory has been involved in the evaluation of all technologies and emerging phenomena associated with undersea warfare.
We develop both equipment and countermeasures for those concepts that are determined to be viable threats. Comprehensive scientific experiments and technological research based on the first principles of physics remain the cornerstone for these programs. We conduct comprehensive sea tests to investigate and validate our understanding. We develop prototype systems and technology for enhancing undersea warfare capabilities, and we test and evaluate these prototype systems. Our work is unique in its methodology and discipline executed from analysis through rigorous sea testing. Detailed pre-test planning, comprehensive data collection, and thorough post-test analysis ensure that results are valid and meaningful.
Major products include technical understanding, assessments, testing and evaluation, prototype development, and special deployed systems. Technology expertise includes basic scientific research in undersea detection physics, conduct of large-scale sea experiments, platform-level assessments to assist the acquisition community in making smart "buy" decisions, system engineering, and development of sensor and signal processing.
Major new efforts are continuing to expand in areas such as SSN survivability, signal processing, automation, analytical modeling, modeling and simulation-based assessments, engineering measurement and evaluation, information technology, and tactical and decision support systems. Our strength in this business area is the ability to quickly provide customers with a workable approach and project plan for solving challenging technical problems.
APL's Undersea Warfare Capabilities
- Testing and Evaluation
- Basic and Advanced Research and Technology Development
- First-Principles Model Development Validation
- Prototype System Development
- Development of Platform Roles, Missions, and Countermeasures
- Operational Support
- Large-Scale Sea-Test Planning, Conduct, and Analysis
- Oceanographic Database Development and Maintenance
We have an extensive record in planning and conducting complex at-sea tests. These ocean experiments involve multiple platforms, from submarines and surface ships to air support and satellites. Such tests usually involve multiple partners, both military and civilian, and often joint operations with U.S. allies. Choreographing these exercises begins with intensive planning, assembly of teams, and readying equipment for data collection and communication.
Staff
Staff members in this business area have enhanced APL's reputation for thorough operational understanding of the undersea warfare environment. We are recognized for our hands-on approach, from work in our own facilities through field testing. Our staff provide the capability to analyze and assess advances in undersea technology through synthesis of theoretical analysis, modeling and simulation, sensor development, operational testing, and information processing.
By studying the oceans, our research scientists and engineers have advanced the state of the art in undersea technology applications. We have developed a thorough understanding of the transmission of submarine-generated signals and how they relate to undersea warfare advanced technology applied to the development of submarine systems, tactics, and countermeasures to enhance operational security.
Our staff in the Undersea Warfare Business Area make critical contributions in the areas of basic research to understand submarine signature generation, undersea surveillance, and tactical anti-submarine warfare systems; advanced submarine designs and technologies for enhanced acoustic and non-acoustic stealth; big-picture warfare and operations analysis, assessment, and modeling and simulation; testing and evaluation of developmental sonar and combat control systems; submarine force protection for in-port and near-port vulnerability; development and operational support of anti-submarine warfare systems; proof-of-concept prototyping; offboard autonomous systems assessment and systems engineering and prototyping; and engineering, prototyping, and shipboard installation of specialized submarine data-collection systems to support intelligence needs.