WASHINGTON, 19 Dec. 2006. U.S. Navy leaders are ordering two TB-33 fiber optic thin-line towed-array submarine sonar systems from manufacturer Chesapeake Science Corp. in Millersville, Md.
Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington awarded Chesapeake a $15.3 million contract Dec. 18 to continue developing, and for two production representative units, of the TB-33 submarine towed sonar array. The contract also calls for Chesapeake to provide training, test equipment, and 3D mock-up devices.
Engineers at Chesapeake are developing the TB-33 array to provide the same capability as the existing thin-line TB-29 array, but with significantly improved reliability.
The TB-29 submarine thin-line towed array is a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) version of the legacy TB-29 towed array for Los Angeles- and Virginia-class attack submarines, with increased acoustic performance, improved combat control capabilities, and replaced obsolete equipment. The TB-29 is longer than the thin-line TB-23 and has a sensor-location system.
Work on the current Chesapeake contract will be in Greensboro, N.C., Stonington, Conn., and Millersville, Md., and will be finished by September 2009.