TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Electronics, Human Systems, Weapons

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMS 404 TORPEDO MK 48 Mod 7 CBASS ACAT III & PMS404 TORPEDO Mk 54 ACAT III

OBJECTIVE: Develop a high shock load and miniature transponder locator system that can be placed in both lightweight and heavyweight torpedoes enabling rapid torpedo recovery under adverse environmental and operational conditions.

DESCRIPTION: The Fleet and torpedo development community launch a significant number of lightweight and heavyweight torpedoes under a full spectrum of environmental and operation conditions to evaluate the technical performance of newly developed torpedo search, verification, and homing algorithms and waveforms. The commitment to support and maintain a technical advantage impacts the overall cost of the Test and Evaluation program within the S&T community.

Torpedo exercise evaluation relies upon the replacement of actual torpedo warheads with Fleet Exercise Sections (FES) hosting data recording and telemetry equipment. After an at-sea torpedo evaluation firing, the weapon shuts down (End-Of-Run (EOR)) and rises to the surface for recovery and telemetry evaluation. Each torpedo must be located and recovered for evaluation purposes and to insure US Navy control of telemetry data and torpedo assets.

Recovery operations occur in the full environmental spectrum from open-ocean to shallow water during all hours and weather conditions.
Under optimum conditions, the torpedo will float with the appearance of a submerged log with the front portion being articulated less than 30 degrees above water. Considerable amount of time is expended to visually search for the torpedo. Cost to the S&T community increases as exercise participants (e.g. submarine, a command ship, a recovery ship, a recovery helicopter, and a spotter plane) support the search. Recovery operations inhibit the number of daily torpedo firings that can be conducted during a torpedo exercise.

An integrated End of Run torpedo transponder would allow for timely recovery of the torpedo. It must be able to communicate with surface (recovery/range craft) and subsurface craft under several unique conditions including RF propagation at the air-water surface layer, deploy an antenna at the torpedo midsection with effective connectivity without impairing the torpedo's operational laminar dynamics during firings. Additionally, the antenna must be able to fit an internal space allocation of 15 cubic inches and self deploy obtaining a line-of-sight connectivity to surface craft at a range of 5 nautical miles, and the antenna must withstand the torpedo's operation/performance depth requirements without signal distortion because of mechanical depth or launch loads. The transponder and antenna must compete within the small FES area and be no larger than 25 cubic inches and overcome attenuation at the air-surface boundary layer.
Transponder power must be able to sustain operations for 24 continuous hours and be no larger than 20 cubic inches.

PHASE I: Complete requirements analysis and conduct technical trade off producing a transponder location system that addresses all the known and implied requirements. Successfully demonstrate at a land based laboratory setting the applicable components/sub-systems at the medium test fidelity level.

PHASE II: Demonstrate at a high fidelity level with both surface and sub-surface system environments at an instrumented tracking range configured for light and heavy classes of torpedoes. Improve system reliability, miniaturization efforts including the antenna deployment subsystem conforming to NAVSEA, Fleet, and USN specifications including IA, HERO, submarine handling requirements.

PHASE III: Produce production quality transponder units satisfying all government provided requirements.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: N/A

REFERENCES:
1. MILSTD 882D, Systems Safety Program Requirements, 10 Feb 2000 -NAVSEA 0924-062-0010, Submarine Safety Requirements Manual Rev C, Advance Change.

2. 16 Jun 2004 - NAVSEA S0970-AAMME 01/SSN/-SSBN, Technical Requirements Manual for Temporary Submarine Alternations, Third Revision, 18 Jan 2005.

3. HERO - NAVSEAINST 8020.7C, Hazards from Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (HERO) Safety Program and OP 3565, Electromagnetic Radiation Hazards to Ordnance Technical manual, by the Navy Ordnance Safety and Security Activity (NOSSSA, N84).

KEYWORDS: Torpedo; Recovery; RF Transponder Beacon; Location; FES.

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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