Advanced Submarine System Development

The Submarine Combat System Improvement (Advanced) (Non-ACAT) project addresses technology challenges to improve tactical control in littoral and open ocean environments for a variety of operational missions including peacetime engagement, surveillance, battle space preparation, deterrence, regional sea denial, precision strike, task group support, and ground warfare support. These technologies, developed by Navy technology bases, the private sector, ONR, Future Naval Capabilities (FNC), and DARPA are then transitioned. Prototype hardware/software systems are developed to demonstrate technologically promising system concepts in laboratory and at-sea submarine environments. The Advanced Sensor effort develops and tests new sensors and demonstrates large array configurations. Current efforts are directed at towed array sensor technologies, telemetry, and architecture to improve reliability and performance while decreasing program life-cycle costs. For large array configurations, Conformal Acoustic Velocity Sonar (CAVES), Wide Aperture Array (WAA), LVA, and Bow Conformal Array (BCA) technologies are also being pursued. The focus of sensor processing technology efforts through the APB program will address improvements in imaging, tactical control, EW and acoustics, including detection, localization, classification, ranging, tracking, situational awareness, tactical decision aids, command decision support tools and displays and other functions essential to mission success. APB will also develop capabilities related to off-hull cueing and coordination with other platforms. Technologies and/or capabilities developed under this Project will be shared, as applicable to reduce costs and optimize reuse, with development programs for surface ship sonar, Advanced Capability Build (ACB) and surveillance platforms, Advanced Surveillance Build (ASB). ACB and APB are managed under a common development process titled AxB. While each platform retains its uniqueness and focus in functional domains essential to mission success, a premium is placed on development of common capabilities and modular architecture technologies to maximize commonality and cost effectiveness.

Advanced Submarine Systems Development (ASSD) is a non-acquisition program that develops, matures and tests advanced technologies for successful integration into current and future submarine classes, to lower the technical/cost risks of integrating new technologies prior to acquisition and speed the delivery of capability and lethality to the Fleet. ASSD transitions Hull, Mechanical, and Electrical (HM&E) technologies, and future naval concepts from the Science & Technology (S&T) and Research and Development (R&D) communities through the development, maturation, and integration of technology projects to operational submarine platforms for assessment, testing, and evaluation. Once projects have proven their maturity and promise through at-sea demonstration, they are formally transitioned into acquisition Programs Of Record (PORs). Additionally, ASSD operates and maintains strategic R&D infrastructure and measurement assets that are critical to the long-term design, assessment and construction of modern, stealthy submarine platforms. Project 2033 is comprised of three programmatic budget categories: Strategic Capability R&D Infrastructure, Long Range R&D Investment, and Rapid Technology Development. Strategic infrastructure investments maintain and operate critical, one-of-a-kind undersea warfare R&D assets that enable the design and manufacture of the stealthiest submarines in the world, without the requirement to develop and test at full scale, which is inordinately expensive and risky. Long-range R&D investment is the maturation and prototyping at full scale of long-range (5-10 years) technologies, to enable their readiness for incorporation into existing and future submarines. The objective is to achieve high technology readiness levels (TRL-7) of the targeted technology so that it can be incorporated into the baseline submarine design during the detailed design and construction contract award and evaluated for back-fit into existing platforms. This is class agnostic technology development that supports the VIRGINIA program, COLUMBIA program, and future submarine technology. Rapid Technology Development projects are efforts designed to rapidly mature higher TRL capabilities and field the particular technology project capability within an 18-30 month window, from program start to submarine at-sea demonstration.

ASW remains a Navy core competency in a dynamic and uncertain maritime environment. U.S. adversaries continue to develop asymmetric capabilities and capacities to deter, disrupt, or delay the entry of U.S. and allied naval forces, and pose a constant challenge as we implement the Maritime Strategy. Evolving submarine technologies offer enhanced stealth, speed, endurance, weapons, and operational proficiency, foretelling that the adversary submarine of the future will have a significantly larger sphere of influence, while presenting less vulnerability to U.S. forces. The effective offensive engagement range of the adversary submarine of the future will continue to match or outrange individual U.S. and multinational platform sensors and weapons in many tactical environments. Submarines are an increasing threat to all Naval and Allied ships, particularly modern diesel subs and faster torpedoes. Not only can the presence of potential hostile submarines delay naval combatant action until they are located and neutralized, submarines can also disrupt all seaborne logistics supply for any ground campaign as well as maritime commerce. U.S. forces must be effective in all operating environments, ranging from the deep open ocean to the littorals, and are key to countering adversarial anti-access and area denial strategies. The Surface ASW System Improvement project will support essential performance enhancements to the AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Surface Ship ASW Combat System. This project will improve Measures of Performance (MOP) by enhancing operator interface methods and tools; active and passive detection; tracking, classification, and localization; Torpedo Detection, Classification, and Localization (TDCL); sonobuoy data processing and display capabilities; and increasing acoustic sensor frequency bandwidth (Operational Requirements Document (ORD) #667-76-05 titled 'AN/SQQ-89 Improvement Program' and Test & Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) 802-2). This project will take advantage of the AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Surface Ship ASW Combat System Open System Architecture (OSA) and Acoustic Rapid Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Insertion (ARCI) initiatives to integrate TDCL and ASW sonar and combat system capability improvements. The AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Surface Ship ASW Combat System is planned as a backfit program for CG47 (select CG59-73 Baseline 3 and 4 ships) and all DDG51 class ships.

Undersea Warfare Decision Support System (USW-DSS) is the Navy Program of Record ASW C2 Net-Centric system supporting the warfighter. USW-DSS provides an integrated, near-real time, net-centric ASW Common Tactical Picture (CTP) and Common Operational Picture (COP) for the Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs). USW-DSS is a C2 capability identified in the ASW Initial Capabilities Document (ICD) for the Sea Combat Commander (SCC) and Theater USW Commander (TUSWC), and addresses requirements from the Commander U.S. Fleet Forces endorsement of "Theater ASW Capability Requirements" letter (dated 24 February 2017). USW-DSS enables effective planning and execution of USW operations, optimizes placement of sensors for exploitation of the environment, manages available resources, balances operations versus risk, and provides a clear vulnerability assessment of the operational environment. USW-DSS ensures safe operational and tactical C2 of submerged U.S. and allied submarines via Prevention of Mutual Interference (PMI) capability, and protects from blue-on-blue engagement with a Waterspace Management (WSM) planning and execution tool. USW-DSS shortens C2 decision processes for detection-to-engagement across multiple platforms, including those with low-bandwidth communications or intermittent connectivity. USW-DSS supports sensor performance predictions for Strike Group Oceanographic Teams (SGOT), and is a key component at the USW Reach Back Cell at Naval Oceanographic Operations Center (NOOC) at the Stennis Space Center, MS, augmenting Theater and afloat ASW analytics with high end meteorological models and super computers. Through remote access and system virtualization, USW-DSS has been expanded to support Air ASW, operations via a shared COP, exercises and training, Continuity of Operations, as well as PMI and WSM of unmanned systems. USW-DSS uses DEVSECOPS to create and test software changes in accordance with the Software Acquisition Pathway to expand capability, address emerging mandated cybersecurity requirements, fix bugs, and expand the reach of the system by adding additional use cases. USW-DSS Build 3 Fleet Capability Release (FCR) 3 will complete integration testing and build toward certification for delivery at both the ashore and afloat platforms.

The Submarine Arctic Warfare Development Project provides the U.S. Navy Submarine Force (SUBFOR) a cadre of trained Arctic Operation Specialists (AOS) and an inventory of unique Arctic sensors that are installed to optimize submarine safety during under-ice operations. AOS personnel assigned from ASL embark on submarines that deploy to the Arctic, cold water and iceberg regions, and marginal ice zones (MIZ) in northern latitudes of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and are advisers to the Commanding Officer. ASL is a shore facility at Naval Base Point Loma with the infrastructure capable of supporting personnel and equipment to conduct the submarine Arctic Warfare Development mission. Improvements and life-cycle expenditures to the facility and warehousing are made as necessary to support the mission. The Submarine Arctic Warfare Development Project, via ASL, responds to the increased threat of naval activity in the Arctic regions while continuously supporting the Navy's strategic objective of Assured Access and Combat Credibility. ASL provides a unique capability that enables the SUBFOR to satisfy the requirements laid out in the Arctic Maritime Homeland Defense Initial Capabilities Document (ICD). ASL and SUBFOR demonstrate existing Arctic Warfare capabilities and operational and tactical proficiency while developing advanced submarine technology in unique cold-water environments, in under-ice conditions, and in ice-covered shallow water regions through the Ice Exercise (ICEX) program that includes Operation Ice Camp. ICEX places an emphasis on submarine operability and mission capability in the world's harshest maritime environment. Efforts include assessment of combat system effectiveness, weapons testing, use of High Frequency (HF) sonars in Arctic regions, testing of ice-capable submarine structures, and development of class-specific Arctic operational guidelines. Tactical Development (TACDEV) is conducted biennially and requires up front comprehensive planning and work-up training, as well as post-exercise analysis and reporting. ICEX provides the framework for various submarine test and evaluation efforts in Arctic regions and at periodic Ice Camps. The ICEX program represents DoD's only drifting ice station capability through Operation Ice Camp.

A continuing need exists to improve Imaging and EW support capabilities in view of the advancements in potential imaging counter-detection and the increasingly dense electromagnetic environment caused by the proliferation of complex radar, communications, and navigation equipment of potential adversaries. Improvements are necessary for submarine Imaging and EW to be operationally effective in the following mission areas: Joint Littoral Warfare, Joint Surveillance, Space and Electronic Warfare, Intelligence Collection, Maritime Protection, and Joint Strike. This project will concurrently consider both Imaging and EW domains as improved mast systems are designed. The evaluation of state-of-the-art technology to implement periscope/mast improvements via EW electromagnetic and electro-optic sensors results in improved capability. Engineering Development Models (EDMs) are developed, evaluated, and validated in the lab and through at-sea testing. This project is a non-Acquisition Category (ACAT) program. The test articles identified consist of critical components that will be fully developed during the Engineering Manufacturing and Development phase into EDMs. Software-based capabilities in Imaging and/or EW domains that will process inputs from improved masts may be integrated and tested within this project.

The objective of this Project is to pursue the development of technologies with the goal of improving ASW effectiveness to the point of rendering the enemy submarine irrelevant against U.S. and coalition forces. U.S. adversaries continue to develop asymmetric capabilities and capacities to deter, disrupt, or delay the entry of U.S. and allied naval forces, and pose a constant challenge as we implement the Maritime Strategy. These trends increase the threats to U.S. surface combatants, thus requiring a focused effort to identify the most promising ASW technologies through a process of discovery, assessment, experimentation, and analysis. Studies, experiments, and/or technology developments under this PE will seek to improve the ability of surface combatants to detect, classify, localize, and track submerged contacts and detect and defend against modern torpedoes. To achieve these objectives, it is essential to develop new ASW technologies. The products from these efforts will be provided to the ACB program supporting the continuing improvement of the AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Surface Ship ASW Combat System.

The Networked Architecture for Undersea Theater Integrated C2 Advantage (NAUTICA) project provides Theater Anti-Submarine Warfare (TASW) architecture development, systems engineering, and design. NAUTICA will identify requirements to integrate intelligence (operational and tactical) and sensor (national and organic) systems to provide a fully informed Naval Integrated Fires - Counter Undersea (N2CX) Common Operational Picture (COP) of enemy undersea forces, maximizing decision superiority and theater level planning, and address TASW C2. Using Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), NAUTICA decomposes warfighting requirements into system requirements allocated to existing Programs of Record or identified as new program requirements. Theater Undersea Warfare Operations Center's (TUSWOC) systems today are not integrated to support performance requirements during all threat levels. This results in failure to most effectively employ Theater USW assets. Near term, the Project will continue to accelerate development by rapidly prototyping the framework for existing legacy systems to be federated, to exchange key information and significantly improve existing TASW capability. NAUTICA will also establish a transition path for new USW technologies such as the Operational Planning Tool (OPT), Water Space Planner (WASP), Battlespace Management Tactical Decision Aid (BAM TDA), and other Future Naval Capabilities (FNCs) that will start to transition Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5/6 enabling technologies into the USW-DSS Program of Record. NAUTICA investments are prioritized in accordance with the Commander U.S. Fleet Forces endorsement of "Theater ASW Capability Requirements" letter (dated 24 February 2017) and Center for Security Forces (CSF) letter "Criticality of Sustaining PMI and WSM Capability and Meeting Emerging Requirements for Great Competition" submitted to OPNAV N2N6. The design of the integrated TASW battle management suite will include a system of systems TASW architecture to enable the existing programs of record under development from the PEO IWS, PEO C4I, PEO AIR, PEO UWS, and N9SP to exploit a common framework.