WASHINGTON – U.S. Navy shipboard electronics experts needed new computing and sensor processing for active and passive sonar systems involved in surveillance, situational awareness, and anti-submarine warfare (ASW). They found a solution from Metron Inc. in Reston, Va.
Officials of the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington announced a $49.4 million contract to Metron in September for the Research Interests in Advanced Undersea Technologies in the areas of Submarine and Surface Ship Sensors and Signal Processing project.
Navy experts are asking Metron to develop combat system signal processing, tracking algorithms, tolls, and display technologies for undersea warfare systems including the Undersea Warfare Decision Support System (USW DSS) and advanced processing and capability builds for surface warships and submarine systems.
Testing and deployment
Navy officials say technologies developed in this program likely will be tested as prototypes before being moved quickly to the fleet. Of prime interest are computers and sensors.
Computing technologies involve applying sophisticated computing technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning, machine learning, and predictive analytics to help detect man-made signals. Other computing technologies of interest in this project include cyber security, decision support, and detection and classification of ships from visual images.
Sensor technologies emphasized in this program include high-power active sonar projectors in conformal acoustic velocity sonar (CAVES) matrix. Also of interest are new kinds of towed-array sonar telemetry components that use Open Architecture Telemetry (OAT) government-standard interfaces.
Automation and torpedo defense
Navy officials also may pursue new technologies in automation; torpedo defense; electronic warfare; situational awareness; active sonar signal processing; imaging; computing technologies; sensor technology; and training.
Sponsoring this project is the Naval Sea Systems Command's Advanced Development Office for Undersea Systems, which is part of the Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS).
For more information contact Metron online at www.metsci.com, or Naval Sea Systems Command at www.navsea.navy.mil.
