N102-117 TITLE: Glide Away Precision Sonobuoy

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Sensors, Electronics

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-264, Air ASW Sys; PMA-290, P-8A Multi-Mission Aircraft

RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted." The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected.

OBJECTIVE: Develop an innovative system concept for modification of the AN/SSQ-53 Sonobuoy to incorporate a guidance and glide capability for deployment from a high altitude (25,000 ft mean sea level (MSL) and higher) aircraft to precise water-entry locations of 25 nautical miles (nm) or more from the launch position.

DESCRIPTION: Innovative concepts are sought to enable aircraft to remain at high altitude while conducting Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) search, localization, tracking, and attack, as well as Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW). Currently, only very limited capability exists to deploy sonobuoys to precise locations from the deploying aircraft. These capabilities require the use of multiple sensors to achieve this task; descent from altitude resulting in reduced on-station time; and over-flight of the desired sonobuoy placement. It is envisioned that proposed solutions will be launched from high altitude and "glide" to a precise water entry position. This would allow deployment of a complex sonobuoy pattern quickly and accurately without the need for the aircraft to descend or deviate from the search pattern flight path. Additionally, as opposed to low-flying or close-in, the prosecuting aircraft will be able to maintain a safe standoff distance and altitude from potential hostile threats.

Proposed concepts should be capable of launch from an "A" size sonobuoy chute, with or without the use of a sonobuoy launch container (SLC). Minimum capability goal will be to glide 25 NM from a deployment altitude of 25,000 ft to a water-entry point with a maximum Circular Error Probability of 50 yards. Innovative system solutions to sonobuoy guidance are highly desired, but should include both Global Positioning System (GPS) available and GPS-Denied environments. Sonobuoy guidance may be accomplished through an in-flight guidance system, pre-launch analysis and deployment software, or a combination thereof. This effort will include the concept development and design of all hardware and software packaged in an AN/SSQ-53 sonobuoy.

The proposed concept should not degrade the capability of the AN/SSQ-53 acoustic sensor equipment: antenna, processing hardware, downlink/uplink hardware, GPS, high power battery, and corresponding receiver/hydrophone. Modifications to the AN/SSQ-53 sonobuoy must maintain the mass properties in accordance with the SSQ-500 production sonobuoy specification (i.e., within maximum weight and the center of gravity (CG) for "A" size sonobuoy). The sonobuoy must be capable of launch from the current P-3C aircraft and the P-8A aircraft�s rotary and single-shot launchers. "A" size sonobuoy standards are as follows: dimensions of 4.875-inch diameter x 36-inch length and weight of 40 pounds or less.

Multi-consortium teaming at the sensor, hardware, software, or integration levels is acceptable.

PHASE I: Develop and demonstrate technical feasibility of the GAPS initial concept. Generate preliminary hardware design details. Develop a plan for developing a prototype and for testing of the prototype.

PHASE II: Develop and finalize component design. Develop and fabricate prototype unit(s) for testing. Define field test objectives and conduct limited prototype testing; including the launch of prototypes from current P-3C and/or surrogate aircraft to demonstrate "glide-away" prototype performance.

PHASE III: Develop a production design of Phase II solution. Conduct integrated engineering and operational testing of an air deployed system. Demonstrate full operational functionality in Navy-supported test scenarios. Transition to the Fleet supporting, for example: Anti-Surface Warfare (ASW), Meteorological and Oceanographic (METOC).

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Technology developed in this SBIR could be leveraged to assist the U.S. Coast Guard or other law enforcement agencies in large-scale Search and Rescue (SAR) operations where low altitude deployment of SAR equipment is undesirable. This type of system capability may be of interest to the undersea mapping, exploration, seismology, and weather communities and may be used for monitoring marine mammals or icebergs. Government agencies such as the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Commerce are continually trying to upgrade their measurement and data collection capability.

REFERENCES:
1. Urick, Robert J. Principles of Underwater Sound for Engineers, 3rd ed. Los Altos Hills, CA: Peninsula Publishing, 1983.

2. U.S. Navy, "Approved Navy Training System Plan for the Navy Consolidated Sonobuoys." [Online] Available http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/docs/ntsp-Sonobuoy.pdf, September, 1998.

3. Ultra Electronics, Maritime Systems, "Sonobuoys." [Online] Available http://www.ultra-uems.com/sonobuoys.html, July 14, 2009.

4. Ultra Electronics Ltd, "An Overview of ASW Sonobuoy Types and Trends." [Online] Available http://www.ultra-scs.com/resources/whitepapers/asw.pdf, March 2003.

5. Baker, Gregory J. et al "GPS Equipped Sonobuoy." [Online] Available http://www.novatel.com/Documents/Waypoint/Reports/sonobuoy.pdf, 2001.

KEYWORDS: Sonobuoy; Sensor; Guided; Undersea; Acoustics; Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW); Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW)

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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