Compact Variable Depth Sonar (CVDS) Navy SBIR FY2004.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2004.1 Topic No.: N04-070 Topic Title: Compact Variable Depth Sonar (CVDS) Proposal No.: N041-070-0 Firm: Advanced Acoustic Concepts Incorporated 425 Oser Avenue Hauppauge, New York 11788 Contact: Mark Levine Phone: (410) 872-0024 Web Site: www.aactech.com Abstract: Recent sea tests with a Variable Depth Source (VDS) (e.g. IUSW-21, LBVDS) have demonstrated increased submarine detection capabilities with a broadband active source that provide continuous active acoustic coverage below the layer and along the entire water column. The primary disadvantage of a VDS is the high impact that its launch and recovery system has on ship design. Advanced Acoustic Concepts (AAC) intends to investigate and evaluated key risk areas including automated launch and recovery and tow body design that leads to a small volume, lightweight system deployable from a small onboard handling system. The system proposed will address source levels greater than 200dB//1 uPa at 1 meter and will span a frequency range of 1-7 kHz. AAC's design will be modular, able to fit inside a 30 foot ISO container (30 x 8 x 8.5 feet) to allow for installation on a variety of smaller future vessels and possibly unmanned vehicles. It will also be able to search the water column rapidly, therefore deployment and retrieval speeds will be a consideration. Advanced Acoustic Concepts (AAC) intends to develop a conceptual design of a compact active variable-depth broadband source and perform static acoustic performance modeling for source level, transmit beam coverage, and transmit energy requirements. AAC also intends to define a concept for the associated handling gear. Benefits: The system developed under this SBIR will provide dual-use benefits for military and commercial applications. On the military side, CVDS will add a bistatic capability to the AN/SQQ-89 ASW system for increased submarine detection range, CVDS will add a depth-agile high power source for increased torpedo detection range on the AN/WSQ-11 and AN/SLQ-25A systems, and CVDS transducer technology will provide forward sector coverage for the AN/WSQ-11. On the commercial side, a compact, high output sonar has application in undersea exploration, salvage operations and collision avoidance. Return