SBIR-STTR Award

This SBIR proposes to develop and evaluate design concepts for housing modular interchangeable acoustic and non-acoustic ASW target-simulation components in an air-launched A-size sonobuoy vehicle containing a commandable/programmable propulsion and guidance system. Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation, teaming with the Applied Research Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University (ARL Penn State), will examine compact propulsion system designs capable of producing adequate speed and endurance while leaving sufficient capacity for various target-simulator module designs. Additionally, we will be able to leverage the technical knowledge, experience and research accumulated and resident at Navmar as a result of prior work completed on the Shallow Water Target SBIR which is intended to be used as a simulator for Improved Extended Echo Ranging (IEER) and is in many aspects common to the Commandable Mobile Anti-Submarine Warfare Sensor (CMAS).

Benefit:
Primarily, the proposed research will provide the Navy with a low-cost, high-fidelity ASW practice target, with the potential to emulate the full-spectrum of platform emissions (acoustic, radar, MAD, EW) that ASW combat aircrews exploit to locate, track and attack hostile submarine targets. Its commandability will provide an added dimension of realism that will create the best ASW training environment for aircrews short of tracking the actual adversary submarine. Additionally, the proposed modular approach will provide an A-size, air-launchable, self-propelled, unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) that can accommodate other as-yet undefined payloads. Other applications might be found in shallow-water (harbor and shipping lane) mine detection, as well as ocean-environment and resource surveys. Devices such as this could also be used by other Naval Commands for training, search & rescue and marine mammal investigation.

Keywords:
MAD, MAD, Acoustic, UUV, ASW, IEER, Sonar, Target-Simulation, Sonobuoy

The Commandable Mobile ASW Simulator (CMAS) operational need was identified by NAVAIR and by the Fleet community to obviate the use of fleet subsurface assets in the conduct of Navy RDT&E testing of airborne ASW acoustic sensor systems, as well as Fleet at-sea training of multi-static acoustic sensor systems and advanced dipping sonar systems. The CMAS vehicle developed in Phase I and Phase II contracts is an A-size autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The primary objective of this Phase II.5 SBIR program is to refine and upgrade the Phase II CMAS prototype design to incorporate those features not included in the prototype buoy but which are required to bring CMAS to a TRL of 6 and ensure transition to a Phase III SBIR program. A second objective of this Phase II.5 contract is to build and deliver five over-the-side ship-deployable CMAS units to the Navy for use in at-sea trials with the MAC and ALFS ASW sensor systems. An option task is identified to fabricate additional models incorporating a decelerator package and demonstrating air launch capability.

Benefit:
CMAS is capable of accurately mimicking ASW targets in real-world scenarios while operating with the most advanced multi-static sonobuoy systems and advanced dipping sonar systems. CMAS replicates environmentally affected active sonar signals with high fidelity, and applies target strength gain to those received signals. It is capable of executing programmable subsurface mission profiles as required by fleet operators. Use of CMAS in at-sea exercises in both littoral and open-ocean areas will permit the uninterrupted scheduling of at-sea exercises without the contingency planning required of Fleet asset-assisted testing. Its use in shallow-water scenarios, where subsurface assets are reluctant to operate, provides the Navy with an expendable ASW target for training operations in these littoral areas. The CMAS AUV has the potential to be equipped with other payloads that may be used to address regional vulnerabilities of oil drilling rigs, desalinization plants, nuclear power plants, on-shore industrial facilities, and other large water body proximity infrastructure protection.

Keywords:
CMAS, Air Launched Underwater Acoustic Target, ASW Simulator, ASW Training, A-Size AUV, AUV, Subsurface acoustic simulator