Navy extends project to develop new computing and sensor technologies for shipboard and submarine sonar

May 5, 2020
Navy wants test prototypes for surveillance, situational awareness, and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) before moving technologies quickly to the fleet.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Navy shipboard electronics experts are extending a project to develop new computing and sensor technologies for active and passive sonar systems involved in surveillance, situational awareness, and anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

Officials of the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington amended a broad agency announcement (N00024-17-IWS5A-01) on Friday for the Submarine and Surface Combat System Sensor and Signal Processing Technologies program.

Navy officials say technologies that industry develops in this program likely will be tested as prototypes before being moved quickly to the fleet. Of prime interest are computers and sensors. This amendment extends the deadline for industry responses to 1 April 2021.

Computing technologies involve applying sophisticated computing technologies such as artificial intelligence, deep learning, machine learning, and predictive analytics to help detect man-made signals.

Related: Lockheed Martin to build new Navy anti-submarine warfare (ASW) shipboard sonar undersea warfare systems

Other computing technologies of interest include cyber security, decision support, and detection and classification of ships from visual images.

Sensor technologies of interest 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.

Depending on technological progress, 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).

Related: General Dynamics to provide Navy with new submarine sonar digital signal processing equipment

Companies interested may request technical information by contacting the Navy's Joshua Tuxhorn by post at Commander Naval Sea Systems Command ATTN: Code PEO IWS5A (Joshua Tuxhorn), 1333 Isaac Hull Ave., SE, Stop 2040, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20376-2040.

Companies who wish to participate should submit white papers by post to Commander Naval Sea Systems Command ATTN: Code PEO IWS5A (Joshua Tuxhorn), 1333 Isaac Hull Ave., SE, Stop 2040, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20376-2040.

Navy officials will invite those submitting the most promising white papers to submit full cost and technical proposals for contracts lasting as long as five years. This phase will involve maturing technologies in the laboratory, as well as and at-sea testing.

Related: Leidos gets Navy go-ahead to fabricate TRAPS deep-ocean sonar system prototypes for anti-submarine warfare (ASW)

For questions or concerns contact the Navy's Joshua Tuxhorn by email at [email protected], or by phone at 805-228-7839. Also contact the Navy's Lt. John Haney by email at [email protected], or by phone at 202-781-1493.

More information is online at https://beta.sam.gov/opp/8c8c142e89684557a5d9e626d078c724/view.

About the Author

John Keller | Editor-in-Chief

John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.

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