Abstract: A system of sensors and weapons in the form of individual cells forming a multi-functional cellular skin is provided to cover the outer surface of an underwater vehicle. The cells are engineered to have specific functional capabilities, e.g., acoustic sensing cells, communications cells, munitions cells, control cells and motive cells, and are electromagnetically attached to the vehicle. The functional arrangement of the cells types and the number of layers will be dependent on the desired capabilities and the overall mission of the vehicle. Cells may be deployed from the vehicle individually or in functional groups by decoupling appropriate cells from the vehicle. Once decoupled, motive cells can transport themselves and other cells as necessary, to positions remote from the vehicle. Groups of cells can be deployed to specific locations and arrayed in specific configurations by motive cells, allowing the vehicle to remain in a standoff position.

Abstract: A weapon system and method is provided to obtain damage assessment data immediately after impact of a missile. The missile releases the pod a short time before impact. The pod contains a parachute, a small camera and communications equipment. When released, the pod deploys the parachute to slow its descent and to direct the camera to the proper orientation so as to capture the impact and damage resulting from the impact. Using its communications equipment, the pod relays the impact and resulting damage data back to launch control. The system and method thus provide launch control with immediate battle damage assessments without requiring a launch platform to remain in the battle arena, or without requiring a reconnaissance platform to enter the arena to obtain the damage assessment data.

Abstract: A system of sensors and weapons in the form of individual cells forming a multi-functional cellular skin is provided to cover the outer surface of an underwater vehicle. The cells are engineered to have specific functional capabilities, e.g., acoustic sensing cells, communications cells, munitions cells, control cells and motive cells, and are electromagnetically attached to the vehicle. The functional arrangement of the cells types and the number of layers will be dependent on the desired capabilities and the overall mission of the vehicle. Cells may be deployed from the vehicle individually or in functional groups by decoupling appropriate cells from the vehicle. Once decoupled, motive cells can transport themselves and other cells as necessary, to positions remote from the vehicle. Groups of cells can be deployed to specific locations and arrayed in specific configurations by motive cells, allowing the vehicle to remain in a standoff position.

Abstract: A weapon system and method is provided to obtain damage assessment data immediately after impact of a missile. The missile releases the pod a short time before impact. The pod contains a parachute, a small camera and communications equipment. When released, the pod deploys the parachute to slow its descent and to direct the camera to the proper orientation so as to capture the impact and damage resulting from the impact. Using its communications equipment, the pod relays the impact and resulting damage data back to launch control. The system and method thus provide launch control with immediate battle damage assessments without requiring a launch platform to remain in the battle arena, or without requiring a reconnaissance platform to enter the arena to obtain the damage assessment data.

Abstract: A system is provided in which a torpedo is launched from a submarine and pays out an optical fiber as it moves away from the submarine towards a target. The optical fiber is attached to the submarine and provides an optical communications link between the submarine and the torpedo. In addition to carrying communications between the submarine and torpedo, the optical fiber includes optical acoustic sensors. The optical fiber serves as a forward deployed acoustic array to gather target bearing and range data that is processed at the submarine. With the array deployed directly within the engagement arena, the submarine can more accurately analyze the acoustic environment to better guide the torpedo through countermeasure avoidance and to target acquisition. The optical fiber pays out behind the torpedo at the same rate that the torpedo moves away from the submarine.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for attaching one or more unmanned, hydroamically shaped, autonomous, undersea platforms to the bow of a submarine. An array of depressions, each matching the shape of the platforms, is provided in the bow of the submarine, equally spaced about the circumference of the submarine. Once seated in the depressions and attached to the submarine, the platforms provide a smooth, hydrodynamic shape to the bow of the submarine. Additionally, conformal arrays on the platforms mate with conformal arrays on the bow of the submarine to form a continuous conformal array and the platforms' weapons systems provide the submarine with forward deployed weapons when the platforms are attached. A platform is launched by detaching it from the submarine bow and raising the leading edge of the platform slightly into the water flow around the bow. Hydrodynamic forces lift the platform away from the submarine for an acoustically quiet launch.

Abstract: A plurality of transducers, closely conforming to the surface of a low-drag ose, are baffle mounted in close pack configurations to eliminate grating lobes. The baffle assembly is mounted outside a pressure hull within a thin acoustically transparent fairing. A plurality of pressure compensators also attach outside the pressure hull. The cavity between pressure hull and fairing is filled with pressure compensating acoustic fluid. Larger portions of unused volume are first filled with a syntactic foam to minimize the amount of fluid required. The pressure compensators balance fluid pressure against external sea pressure to prevent fairing collapse. This array maximizes available nearby internal nose volume thus allowing beamforming electronics to be located within the pressure hull in close proximity to the array elements, connecting thereto via a plurality of short coaxial cables.