Dynamics Technology, Inc. proposes to enhance the performance of existing Tactical Decision Aids (TDAs) for ASW applications by improving upon existing models, adding new capability, and embedding the algorithms within updated GUI software. Such a TDA will be useful to government and military analysts for mission planning, assessment of foreign technologies, and route planning, and it will be useful to operators of ASW sensors for assessing sensor performance against threat submarines and to submariners for evaluating own-ship vulnerability in real time. It also will be a useful training tool.We will assess the performance of existing models embedded within TDAs against state-of-the-art models, identify the models in need of upgrade, and include new targets and new sensor platforms in the TDAs to address current ASW concerns. Based on these results, we will either upgrade one model or add one new modeling capability in Phase 1, and plan for upgrading the full suite of sensor models in Phase 2 work. Our planning will include careful consideration of the inputs and outputs to provide maximum utility to the end-users of the TDA. Successful completion of the Phase 1 review of modeling capabilities and priorities and Phase 2 implementation into a TDA will result in a modern piece of software useful to many types of users for many purposes. Military analysts can use it for mission and route planning and as a tool for post-mission debriefing and alternative outcome assessment. Intelligence analysts can use it to evaluate the potential threat from existing or future enemy sensors. ASW operators can use it to evaluate expected performance of ASW sensors in real-time and for training. Submariners can use it for real-time assessment of own-ship vulnerability, mission planning and replanning as new information arrives, and for training. The software will be developed for use at several levels of complication. For users who need quick answers, we will plan to have a mode that requires minimal inputs and bases answers on historical environmental parameters or parameters automatically derived from available sensor data. For those who need to explore dependence on environmental parameters, performance of new or hypothetical sensor systems, or on multiple CONOPS scenarios, we will allow adjustment of all necessary parameters for sensitivity studies.In addition to the users described above, the Coast Guard and Homeland Defense agencies could use the TDA to address security from enemy submarines in domestic waters. Furthermore, the models, algorithms, and sensors could be extended to detection of surface ships with additional effort. The TDA would provide many of the models and the software architecture framework for such development. A surface ship TDA would be useful to Immigration Services and law and drug enforcement agencies, as well as the above domestic security agencies
