TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Sensors, Battlespace

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-264 Air Anti Submarine Warfare Program; PMA-290

OBJECTIVE: Develop a technique for accurate placement of sonobuoy sensors deployed from marine patrol aircraft (MPA) from high altitudes.

DESCRIPTION: Increasing emphasis is being placed on conducting Naval Air Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW) operations, such as sonobuoy deployment and monitoring, from high altitudes. This reduces the stress on the MPA airframe enabling longer service life, improves / maximizes aircraft fuel efficiency and reduces the exposure of the crew and aircraft to hostile surface threats. Sonobuoys, especially tactical sonobuoys, must be accurately placed in the water. At present, an algorithm on board the aircraft calculates the best location to launch a buoy to ensure it will land in the water at the desired splash point. Calculations are based on buoy type, wind conditions and aircraft altitude and speed. Typically operations are conducted at low altitudes to reduce the uncertainty of the actual splash point due to wind drift. Splash point uncertainty becomes a significant problem at the high operational altitudes being discussed by Navy planners.

A technique for precise sonobuoy deployment from high altitudes is sought. Techniques could be (but are not limited to) modification / augmentation of the current sonobuoy parachute assembly, replacing the parachute assembly with another decelerator, active or passive guidance based on local wind conditions, and / or the development of an improved prediction algorithm. Concepts are subject to the following requirements:

Deployment altitude: 20,000 to 30,000 feet above ground level.
Deployment velocity: Per the current sonobuoy deployment envelope.
Splash Point Accuracy: 500 m required / 100 m desired.
Maximum Descent Time: 300 seconds from 30,000 feet
Impact Velocity: Within the shock limits in the Production Sonobuoy Specification.
Sonobuoy Types: All current fleet and developmental sonobuoys.
Wind Characterization: It is assumed that the aircraft will have a prior knowledge of the wind profile through the use of tactical dropsondes or other wind speed measurement technique.
Guidance: GPS can not be utilized.
Added Weight: Less than 10 pounds to current sonobuoys, with total buoy weight not to exceed 39 pounds.
Size: Must be compatible with current sonobuoy and sonobuoy launch container (SLC) dimensions (replacement of the sonobuoy parachute assembly is acceptable).
Added Cost: Less than $100 per unit in production quantities.

PHASE I: Develop concept and evaluate feasibility. Generate hardware design details, and develop aerodynamic numerical model to assess feasibility. Provide the Navy with appropriate design inputs for independent evaluation of placement accuracy. The Navy will provide representative sonobuoy hardware to support hardware design and integration if needed.

PHASE II: Develop prototype and integrate with sonobuoy systems. Develop algorithm to specify launch point, based on predicted trajectory, necessary to achieve desired splash point. Conduct in-air deployment to demonstrate algorithm performance and prototype hardware capability.

PHASE III: Develop production design of Phase II solution. Conduct integrated testing. Transition into the fleet supporting MPA missions.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Technology developed in this SBIR could be leveraged to assist the Coast Guard or other law enforcement agencies in large search and rescue (SAR) operations where low altitude deployment of SAR equipment is undesirable. Also, sensors to monitor marine mammals or icebergs could be deployed more accurately from a higher altitude.

REFERENCES:
1. Holler, Roger, "High Altitude Launch of ASW Sonobuoys", NADC-81155-30, June 1981.

2. Submarine Tracking by Means of passive Sonobuoys, Alexander Wahlstedt, Jesper Fredriksson, Karsten Jored and Per Svensson, Div. Of Command and Control Warfare Technology SE-581 11 Linkoping, Sweden http://www.foi.se/infofusion/bilder/FOA-R--96-00386-505--SE.pdf

3. NCAR GPS Dropsonde system
http://www.eol.ucar.edu/rtf/facilities/dropsonde/gpsDropsonde.html

4. Approved Navy Training System Plan for the navy consolidated Sonobuoys N88-NTSP-A-50-8910B/A, Sept 1998
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/docs/ntsp-Sonobuoy.pdf

KEYWORDS: sonobuoy; air deployment; high altitude; precision delivery; accurate placement; splash-point

TPOC: (301)342-2079
2nd TPOC: (301)342-2048

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between November 13 and December 9, 2007, you may talk directly with the Topic Author(s) to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting December 10, 2007, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

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