SBIR-STTR Award

This proposal describes a low-cost real-time network for sharing the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Common Tactical Picture. An architecture is proposed that uses the SPS-74 Periscope Detection Radar (PDR) as a broadcast transmitter and a low-cost digital receiver system that is installed on all participating units. A technical description is provided for the key components of the transmit and receive subsystems including estimation of key performance parameters. The system proposed is shown to have data communication capability comparable to Link 16 and is expected to be far less expensive than integration of the radar and tactical decision functions with existing combat systems and tactical data links.

Benefit:
This capability, when fully developed, will provide a significant improvement to the tactical posture of the ASW task forces. The obvious commercialization application is to transition to the SPS-74 system for fleet deployment of the radar communications capability. Periscope detections from the SPS-74 will be propagated automatically to escort platforms for prosecution. In addition, this technology has the potential to interface with new systems being developed including the MH-60R to support the ASW kill-chain. Finally, because this communications channel is not envisioned to be fully utilized, it may support high-speed communication of other tactical data types between platforms in satellite restricted coverage areas.

Keywords:
SPS-74, SPS-74, Communications, Radar, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), common tactical picture, Periscope Detection Radar (PDR)

Effective communications and data sharing between the platforms in a Carrier Strike Group (CSG) are critical for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), force protection, and situational awareness. The data links to convey this information must have low latency and high reliability. An effective communications architecture should employ multiple paths for critical ASW data to mitigate against limitations in any one communications system. Many platforms employ one or more radar systems that could be leveraged for this purpose. Utilizing an existing radar for communications could lead to lower lifecycle cost since much of the hardware can be reused or shared. Also, with ship space at a premium, in many cases adding another antenna specifically for a communications system simply may not be feasible. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) effort focuses on the development of a low-cost, real-time network for sharing the ASW Common Tactical Picture (CTP) using a high-power, high-bandwidth radar with excess duty cycle as a broadcast transmitter and a low-cost digital receiver system that can be installed on receiving platforms. The transmitting radar propagates ASW CTP elements automatically to other platforms for prosecution.

Benefit:
The result of this SBIR development will be a low-cost capability for sharing the ASW Common Tactical Picture that may be deployed much more quickly and at lower cost than further integration of existing sensors, combat systems and data links. The Phase II work will demonstrate the communications mode capabilities using a high-power, high-bandwidth radar like the AN/SPS-74 Periscope Detection Radar to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed communications system. This should give the Navy a clear indication of the viability, risks, and approximate level of effort required to transition this capability to operational systems and platforms. Potential transition opportunities include existing In-Service Rotating Radars like the AN/SPS-74 Periscope Detection Radar, Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), AN/SPQ-9B, or AN/SPS-67 radars. Additional applications of radar communications systems could be developed to drastically reduce the amount of time it takes to receive critical Mine Countermeasures (MCM) data from unmanned vehicles like the Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) Remote Minehunting System (RMS). Finally, this technology could be applied to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) border surveillance and security initiatives to disseminate alerts from unmanned border surveillance radar posts.

Keywords:
mine warfare (MIW), Carrier Strike Group (CSG), border security, periscope detection radar, Radar Communications Systems, Common Tactical Picture (CTP), Mine countermeasures (MCM), anti-submarine warfare (ASW)