Abstract: A system and method is provided for using acoustical pulses generated from an airborne laser source to locate objects under water. An array of acoustic sensors, such as passive sonobuoys at the ocean surface, is deployed in known or determinable locations by aircraft. Each area surrounded by acoustic sensors comprises a search cell, within which sonar scattering data can be used to locate objects. Following sonobuoy deployment, the aircraft uses the laser to rapidly generate many laser-acoustic pulse sources within each search cell, which in turn generate spherical acoustic pulses traveling through the water. The acoustic sensors receive the acoustic pulses, either on a direct path or on a scattered path after the pulse strikes an underwater object. The sensors record the acoustic signatures of the received pulses and transmit data of the recorded acoustic pulses to a processor such as processor on a nearby ship.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for using acoustical pulses generated from an airborne laser source to locate objects under water. An array of acoustic sensors, such as passive sonobuoys at the ocean surface, is deployed in known or determinable locations by aircraft. Each area surrounded by acoustic sensors comprises a search cell, within which sonar scattering data can be used to locate objects. Following sonobuoy deployment, the aircraft uses the laser to rapidly generate many laser-acoustic pulse sources within each search cell, which in turn generate spherical acoustic pulses traveling through the water. The acoustic sensors receive the acoustic pulses, either on a direct path or on a scattered path after the pulse strikes an underwater object. The sensors record the acoustic signatures of the received pulses and transmit data of the recorded acoustic pulses to a processor such as processor on a nearby ship.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for using acoustical pulses generated from an airborne laser source to locate objects under water. An array of acoustic sensors, such as passive sonobuoys at the ocean surface, is deployed in known or determinable locations by aircraft. Each area surrounded by acoustic sensors comprises a search cell, within which sonar scattering data can be used to locate objects. Following sonobuoy deployment, the aircraft uses the laser to rapidly generate many laser-acoustic pulse sources within each search cell, which in turn generate spherical acoustic pulses traveling through the water. The acoustic sensors receive the acoustic pulses, either on a direct path or on a scattered path after the pulse strikes an underwater object. The sensors record the acoustic signatures of the received pulses and transmit data of the recorded acoustic pulses to a processor such as processor on a nearby ship.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for using acoustical pulses generated from an airborne laser source to locate objects under water. An array of acoustic sensors, such as passive sonobuoys at the ocean surface, is deployed in known or determinable locations by aircraft. Each area surrounded by acoustic sensors comprises a search cell, within which sonar scattering data can be used to locate objects. Following sonobuoy deployment, the aircraft uses the laser to rapidly generate many laser-acoustic pulse sources within each search cell, which in turn generate spherical acoustic pulses traveling through the water. The acoustic sensors receive the acoustic pulses, either on a direct path or on a scattered path after the pulse strikes an underwater object. The sensors record the acoustic signatures of the received pulses and transmit data of the recorded acoustic pulses to a processor such as processor on a nearby ship.

Abstract: The advanced vertical array beamformer signal processor accomplishes acoustic beamforming of an underwater vertical array used in shallow water utilizing matched beam processing to suppress generated noise and/or ship radiated noise thereby increasing the detectability of a submerged source emitting only a low noise signal. The processor exploits the difference of the signal arrival angle of both active and passive signals with that of the wind generated noise and ship radiated noise which is prominent in downward refractive sound speed profiles. After filtering the undesired noise, the processor uses the depth of the source as a clue for detection; the processor is an energy detector focused on the returns of a deep source.