2025_proceedings: Concept demonstration of an ASW barrier using low-cost unmanned systems

• Session: 25. Unmanned vehicles for underwater acoustic surveillance and monitoring
  Organised by: Alain Maguer
• Lecture: Concept demonstration of an ASW barrier using low-cost unmanned systems
  Paper ID: 2149
  Author(s): Jeroen van de Sande, Peter Beerens, Koen Blom, Mathieu Colin, Martijn van Riet, Otto Koetsier
  Presenter: Jeroen van de Sande
  Abstract: The use of Maritime Unmanned Systems (MUS) in modern warfare has taken a flight over the past years. Advancement of technology in autonomous data processing and underwater communication and navigation is opening doors to more complex applications such as Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW). Traditional manned ASW capacity typically comes with high operational costs, limited availability and vulnerability in high-risk areas. By leveraging new technologies, augmentation of existing ASW capabilities with low-cost, unmanned systems can serve as a force multiplier. A particular use case in this context is the development of an autonomous NATO ASW barrier designed for near-future, small-scale conflicts. For this purpose, a network of static and dynamic nodes function as a ‘trip-wire’ that is triggered when a submarine crosses it. One or more active dipping sonars combined with passive nodes perform multi-static Doppler-based detection of (slow) intruders. At REPMUS 2024 a concept implementation of such an ASW barrier has been successfully demonstrated in collaboration with other NATO partners. Experimental passive bottom nodes were deployed on the seabed together with a surface vehicle equipped with dipping sonar. All assets performed fully autonomous on-board target detection, tracking and acoustic communication of results using the Smart Adaptive Long and Short-range underwater Acoustic Network (SALSA) protocol stack. Interoperability between assets of the different NATO countries was achieved through the use of the Collaborative Autonomous Tasking Layer (CATL) protocol, allowing target prosecution by other partners. The experiments demonstrated the potential of the use of unmanned systems for augmenting traditional ASW capacity. This paper will elaborate on the implementation of this system of systems and show achieved results.
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• Corresponding author: Mr Jeroen van de Sande
  Affiliation: TNO - Acoustics & Underwater Warfare
  Country: Netherlands