Integrated Surveillance System

The Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS) project comprises the mobile, tactical arm of the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS), providing long range detection and cueing for tactical weapons platforms against both diesel- and nuclear-powered submarines. SURTASS also provides the undersea surveillance necessary to support regional conflicts and sea-lane protection. SURTASS has recent passive and active success against diesel submarines operating in both shallow and deep ocean environments. SURTASS is leveraging existing developments and reducing costs by using Non-Developmental Items and commercial hardware, supporting common Navy Undersea Warfare processing and towed array developments, and increasing operator efficiency through computer-aided detection and classification processing. SURTASS development efforts include Low Frequency Active (LFA)/Compact Low Frequency Active (CLFA) improvements, common IUSS processing, twin-line array development and processing, next generation array developments, improved detection and classification/passive automation to counter quieter threats, integrated active and passive operations, and improved Battle Group support. LFA/CLFA provides an active adjunct capability for IUSS passive and tactical sensors to counter the quieter diesel and nuclear threats of the 2020s and beyond. Improvements include TL-29A/LFA/CLFA integration enhancements, advanced waveforms for littoral/shallow water operations including Doppler sensitive waveforms, and processing algorithms to reduce clutter and reverberation false alarms in shallow water. The Integrated Common Processor (ICP) is a derivative of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Submarine Acoustic Rapid Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) Insertion (ARCI) program and is being augmented for IUSS requirements. Together, the LFA/CLFA improvements, TL-29A, and the ICP support the SURTASS Active Improvement Program. Functional improvements to ICP/SURTASS are delivered to the Fleet in software "builds" under the DevSecOps process, while hardware improvements are delivered through the Tech Insertion (TI) process. SURTASS participates in the process by contributing algorithms for consideration, supplying peer group members for review of candidate algorithms, participating in test evolutions, and incorporating improved algorithms into operational systems.

The Deployable Surveillance Systems (DSS) project (0344), complementing the Fixed Surveillance System (FSS) and Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS), provides flexible and responsive wide area surveillance to the Theater Undersea Warfare (TUSW) commanders worldwide. DSS will operate as adjunct systems to meet the established FSS and SURTASS missions and to meet additional missions as articulated in the OPNAV Top Level Requirements documents and follow-on Course of Action Analysis (COAA) and as dictated by TUSW commanders evolving and emergent operational requirements. DSS is comprised of the following systems: Deep Water Passive (DWP) and Deep Water Active (DWA). Informed by TUSW Offset operations and the tailored requirements process, the DSS Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Fielding Program focused initially on the DWP increment and associated spiral development updates. Spiral developments to meet the evolving submarine threat will leverage on-going Navy, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and small business research efforts including processing and sensor technology. The follow-on increment is on DWA where FY23-26 includes funds that will provide a rapidly deployable sustained surveillance capability in response to emergent Fleet Undersea Warfare (USW) coverage gaps to include mitigating array outages or platform shortages. FY27 includes funds for DWA that will provide a rapidly deployable sustained surveillance capability in response to emergent Fleet Undersea Warfare (USW) coverage gaps to include mitigating array outages or platform shortages. The FY 2027 cost of the DSS Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is $15.120 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units.

T-Auxiliary, Repair, Cable (T-ARC) is a candidate replacement program for U.S. Navy's only organic undersea cable laying and repair ship, USNS ZEUS (T-ARC 7), which is at the end of her extended service life. The ship's main mission is to deploy, repair, and retrieve undersea cables and equipment, with a secondary mission of towing projectors.