Advances in Technology Multistatic Sonar

Advances in Technology &

Multistatic Sonar

“PERVASIVE SOUND”

Mark Merrifield – Strategy Director

Alan Wignall – Technical Director

The Challenge

Submarine advantages

Legacy equipment

The Enablers

The Transformation

Operational concepts

Processing & displays

Submarine advantages

Stealth

Endurance

Lethality

Flexibility

Multiple Platforms

Multiple Sensors Acoustic

Hull-Mounted Sonar

Variable Depth Sonar

Dipping Sonar

Sonobuoys

Fixed Arrays

Non-Acoustic Radar

ESM

Magnetic Anomaly

Intelligence

Recognise limitations of legacy ASW sonar: High power ship-centric sonar

Helicopter dipping sonar

Passive and active airborne sonar

Exploit available technologies & systems: Deployable sensors, from MPAs, Helos,

UAVs, ships

Digital sensors and communications

COTS PC processing power

COTS mission system architectures

System & software development tools

Build on existing products & skills: Sonobuoy systems (buoys, telemetry,

processing)

Integrated Sonar System (ISS)

Surface Ship Torpedo Defence (SSTD)

Passive Buoy Spacing 1,000y – 2000y

Active Buoy Spacing 3,000y – 4000y

Passive Buoys (HIDAR)

Active Low-Frequency Buoys (ALFEA)

Passive Buoys (HIDAR)

Active Low-Frequency Buoys (ALFEA)

Single Ship Multiple Frequency Hull-Mounted Sonar Multiple Frequency Variable Depth Sonar Directional Passive Towed Array Bistatic HMS – VDS operation Multistatic distributed sensor operation

One Sonar – Multiple Sensors Correlation with geographic data and non-acoustic sensors Incorporates torpedo detection, classification & localisation Can include torpedo countermeasures (towed & expendable)

Increased detection opportunities

Increased probability of detection

Detection on multiple sensors concurrently

Classification aid

Enhanced tracking

Multiple ship operation

All ASW assets

Ships

Patrol Boats

Auxiliaries

ASW aircraft

Utility aircraft

A single operator can effectively manage up to four sonars

Probability of tracking rather than probability of detection

Animated, interactive, geographical, persistent surveillance A single display shows the output of all sensors Geographical representation with chart underlays for track orientation and correlation Drill-down & drill-up to detailed active and passive classification displays

Legacy standalone sonar systems will evolve into integrated and distributed sonar systems

Wide area persistent surveillance will be achieved using smaller less powerful systems, by creating Pervasive Sound zones (diversity in frequency, space, and time)

The necessary new sonar processing and display concepts, which provide geographic, animated, interactive, persistent surveillance, are enabled by modern PC-based processing power

Advances in Technology &

Multistatic Sonar

“PERVASIVE SOUND”

Mark Merrifield – Strategy Director

Alan Wignall – Technical Director