• Air and Missile Defense
• Biomedicine
• Civilian Space
• Cyber Operations
• Homeland Protection
• National Security Analysis
• National Security Space
• Precision Engagement
• Research and Exploratory Development
• Special Operations
• Strategic Systems
• Undersea Warfare
  • Overview
  • Expertise
  • Program Areas
    • Anti-Submarine Warfare
    • Maritime ISR
    • Security and Survivability
  • Facilities
• Sample Programs
• Selected Facilities
• JHU Collaborative Projects
• APL Technical Digest
• Govt. Employee Fellowship Program

Program Areas

Security and Survivability

The foundation of our core competencies is first-principles studies of undersea phenomenology and testing and evaluation of advanced concepts to prevent or correct submarine detection vulnerabilities. Our data-fusion work addresses intra-platform tactical control challenges for submarine, surveillance, air, and surface combat control communities. Command and control programs address inter-platform challenges, planning for network-enabled undersea warfare concentrating on force vulnerability assessment and situational awareness, force optimization, force planning, and automation. System engineering concepts focus on development of an overarching system of systems framework to meet the objectives of SEAPOWER 21 anti-submarine warfare. That challenging task requires a shift from the current platform-centric approaches to a capabilities approach. Development of advanced capable sensors is required, as well as development of the communications and information-sharing approaches to move the concept from that of a family of systems to a true system of systems.

Submarine Security and Survivability

The SSBN Security Program is APL's largest, longest-term undersea warfare program; we have been the Navy's lead laboratory for more than 30 years. The program provides authoritative assessments of the vulnerability of U.S. SSBNs to detection and prosecution by any means, whether actual threats or those technologies with the potential of being technologically feasible. Our independent physics-based program provides critical information on detection shortfalls and opportunities for exploitation, including development of countermeasures. The program also serves as a kind of "skunkworks" for the U.S. Navy, providing fundamental understanding and transitioning numerous concepts and technologies to anti-submarine warfare programs.

In 2004, the SSBN Security Program was expanded to include SSN and SSGN platforms within its scope and renamed the Submarine Security and Survivability Program. Submarine Security and Survivability focuses on SSN and SSGN vulnerabilities to detection and development of specific countermeasures. The primary concern is submarine detectability while operating in forward areas.

Littoral Warfare Advanced Development (LWAD)

APL leads the science team for the LWAD project sponsored by the Office of Naval Research. At-sea test support includes planning, environmental site characterizations and system-performance predictions, at-sea data collection, navigation and communication systems support, and post-test reconstruction and archiving. In 2004, APL coordinated test planning activities involving more than 15 organizations, ensuring that developmental technologies and legacy system participants were effectively integrated for the exercise.

For the largest and most successful LWAD exercise to date, conducted in the East China Sea in 2005, APL led the installation of oceanographic and acoustic sensor data-collection equipment. We provided initial on-site environmental and acoustic system analysis along with at-sea leadership. Participants included six Japanese research vessels, three pairs of U.S. and Japanese military platforms (two destroyers, two submarines, and two helicopters), four Japanese and U.S. Marine Patrol Aircraft, 16 ocean drifters for ocean-current measurement, and 92 Japanese and U.S. test participants. The tests collected a significant amount of scientific performance data for several Navy programs, meeting their overall system concept evaluation objectives. APL's role within LWAD also expanded to provide navigation, communication, and logistics support for LWAD sea tests.

Maritime and Port Physical Security

The Laboratory began actively researching and providing solutions to deal with asymmetric threats to ships and maritime facilities well before the attack on the USS Cole.  To date, we have examined the entire range of unconventional threats on, above, and below the water in port and littoral environments. Using our core competencies of operations analysis and systems engineering, we develop or assemble information from disparate disciplines, including intelligence, weapon effects, port and platform operations, sensor phenomenology, technology, and the environment. In recognition of the fact that individual maritime settings are unique, we bring these elements together in order to have a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of waterside physical security problems. This synthesis also provides a framework in which to develop and implement solutions. The products and services we have delivered to the Navy and Coast Guard include analytical studies, physical and engineering modeling, operational and tactical simulations, technological and phenomenological research and development, system implementation and integration, and full-scale testing and evaluation. We have collaborated with numerous government, academic, and industry partners to help our sponsors better understand waterside threats and vulnerabilities to Navy and maritime assets and infrastructure.

For more information, contact Peter W. Jacobus.