Underwater Vertical Electric Field Detection Navy SBIR FY2009.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2009.1 Topic No.: N091-027 Topic Title: Underwater Vertical Electric Field Detection Proposal No.: N091-027-0691 Firm: Information Systems Laboratories, Inc. 10070 Barnes Canyon Road San Diego, California 92121-2722 Contact: Michael Larsen Phone: (858) 373-2770 Web Site: www.islinc.com Abstract: Information System Laboratories, Inc. (ISL) proposes to team with ERAPSCO, a joint venture of USSI and Sparton, the world''''s leading sonobuoy manufacturers, to develop a low-cost underwater E-field sensor capable of collecting all electric field signals emanating from submarines. In particular, a sensor capable of measuring the vertical component of the field in addition to the horizontal components will be developed. This will enable exploitation of all low-frequency electric field signals emitted by submarines and offers new detection modalities that will facilitate vessel classification, discrimination from surface vessel track, and data fusion with acoustic sensors. Data will be collected in Phase I for various floating and on-bottom configurations to validate sensor and noise models and will be used to determine the optimal aperture size and electrode location and make recommendations for an engineering prototype of a compact low-cost three-axis electric field sensor. This information will be used in Phase II to develop and test a prototype sensor with the support of ERAPSCO. Benefits: Modern diesel-electric submarines pose a threat to national maritime strategy and naval operations. The Navy no longer has the ability to conduct localization and small area search operations against quiet diesel-electric submarines using passive acoustic sensing methods. Acoustic quieting and background noise levels in the littoral have decreased the detection range of these submarines to the extent that maritime patrol aircraft stores of passive "A"-size buoys (AN/SSQ 53F/77C family) are no longer adequate to meet the time and search area requirements for these missions. Detection ranges of passive sensors against quiet signals cannot be improved without considerable technical risk and increased buoy cost and size. Active acoustic sensor use in the littoral suffers reverberation range degradation and alerts the submarine, enabling it to undertake stealth and threatening countermeasures. Passive acoustic sensor detection range is also severely limited in the littoral due to reduced threat sound pressure levels and intense background noise. A complementary passive sensing technology is needed to maintain an effective ASW capability for Maritime Shield, Clean Sweep, and Hold-At-Risk Naval operations. Return