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	Director, Operational Test & Evaluation
FY97 Annual Report

SUBMARINE COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT SYSTEM (SCSS)

	Navy Program (no ACAT) 89 systems Total program cost (TY$) $589M Average unit cost (TY$) $6.8M (Costs represent Submarine-unique items only; costs of Submarine portion of Navy-wide programs is significantly more) Full-rate production: FY97 Phase 1QFY99 FY99 Phase 1QFY00 Prime Contractor Various

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010

The Submarine Communications Support System (SCSS) is an umbrella program which consists of about fifteen smaller programs to improve submarine radio connectivity. It supports information superiority by improving data rates and incorporating key information systems technology, including IT-21, JDISS, GBS, that will improve submarines' contributions to dominant maneuver, precision engagement, and full-dimensional protection. It or a variant will provide the exterior communications system (SubECS) for the New Attack Submarine (NSSN) as well as all SSN 688, SEAWOLF and TRIDENT class submarines. Some of the key components will include:

Antennas. The OE-538 Antenna system is intended to replace the BRA-34 multi-purpose antenna currently used by SSN 688, TRIDENT and SEAWOLF class submarines and to go on NSSN. It is designed to be more reliable and to have better frequency coverage, allowing for future growth requirements. The High Data Rate antenna (HDR) is intended to provide very high throughput at EHF and SHF.

Architecture. The Submarine Antenna Distribution System (SADS) is a computer controlled switch that automatically connects antennas to radios and provides antenna control and tuning. The Baseband Switch (BBS) is another computer controlled switching system that connects radios, cryptographic equipment, and input/output devices automatically. Early phases of SCSS will use ethernet LANs to provide connectivity, interoperability and remote operability. The Navy-wide Automated Digital Network System (ADNS) will improve on this using a router, network management protocols, multi-level security, and embedded INFOSEC Product (EIP) over an ethernet for Build 1. Build 2 (available for submarines in FY00) and subsequent builds will transition to Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networking, which will be compatible with NSSN. A new Time Frequency Distribution System (TFDS) is being procured to improve reliability and reduce cost over Cesium standards.

Computer Message Support. The GFE system, Submarine Message Buffer (SMB), with the latest software, was never operationally tested. The rest of the Navy uses a system called NAVMACS and may be transitioning to the Defense Messaging System (DMS). The SCSS and NSSN programs currently intend to transition to DMS and the ADNS.

Receivers/Transmitters. The Submarine LF/VLF VMEbus Receiver (SLVR) is intended to use COTS/NDI technology, with increased processing power and memory and improved algorithms, yielding improved receiver gain. It will replace several much larger receivers, achieving significant space savings. It will eventually be improved with the addition of a COTS MF/HF receiver and an ELF receiver. ADNS Build 2 will incorporate EHF functionality. In the meantime, the Navy EHF Communications Controller (NECC) is being introduced into the fleet to handle low and medium data rate EHF communications. The Miniaturized Demand Assigned Multiple Access (Mini-DAMA) system will replace existing UHF transceivers and implement multiplexing of UHF signals in the near term, and is being introduced into the fleet. The Navy's Digital Modular Radio (DMR) is intended to provide VHF/UHF communications and replaces Mini-DAMA in the mid term (SCSS FY01 Phase). The long term Joint Tactical Radio (JTR) will incorporate HF functionality as well and is planned for incorporation in SCSS FY03 Phase. The SCSS system will incorporate several other Navy-wide improvement programs, such as Improved Link-11 and Link-16 tactical data link systems (Sub MIDS), cellular phone information exchange systems, and HF transmitters as they are procured. It will also support the Navy communications initiative, Information Transfer for the 21^st Century (IT-21).

Shore Stations. There are a number of improvements planned for shore stations including VLF broadcast facilities and shore communications terminals to take advantage of the IT-21 architecture, and replace sunset technology.

The SCSS program is an incremental phase program, which aims to have full compatibility and interoperability with other Navy and US forces in the 2005 time frame and beyond. SCSS will be procured in five two-year phases. During these phases, software and hardware upgrades to equipment from previous phases will be accomplished as necessary to keep up with commercial technology. The test concept for SCSS involves IOT&E for each participating program as it would normally occur, as well as a series of phased tests for the overall system. Each phase of the system would undergo an operational assessment, a prototype operational test done on a land based system, which would be used to certify the system for installation on a submarine, and then an OPEVAL. Periodically (every two years, or as dictated by the pace of change), the system would undergo an operational test to assess incremental improvements.

COMOPTEVFOR and DOT&E have asked for a capstone TEMP and ORD for SCSS. These documents have been in draft for about two years. They had been held up until recently due to the inability to come up with meaningful operational MOEs, but the Capstone Requirements Document is now in the signature chain.

Capstone ORD and TEMP IPTs have not met for over a year. However, some participating programs have undergone operational assessments and operational tests.

The Baseband Switch (BBS) completed OPEVAL in December 1996. Although not formally tested, SMB was assessed in the BBS OPEVAL. The OE-538 Antenna and an early prototype of SADS were operationally assessed in 1997. The SLVR operational test was done in the November 1997.

OT&E has been conducted on components of SCSS in accordance with their individual TEMPs. However, there is no approved Capstone TEMP, and no SCSS integrated phase tests were done.

The operational test concept for SCSS is reasonable, since this is a rapidly evolving system. However, it has not yet been implemented. Some components (such as SMB, Mini-DAMA, and NECC), were introduced into the fleet before formal operational test or without interoperability testing, and had some effectiveness and suitability problems. This emphasizes the significance of not having a Capstone TEMP and ORD for the integrated radio room, SCSS, which will be much more complex. The lack of TEMP and ORD leaves NSSN without formal communications system requirements as well.

The OE-538 faces reliability problems, requiring re-engineering of the HF narrowband portion of the antenna system. The High Data Rate antenna (HDR) will be challenged to meet its operational performance goals, due to physical constraints which limit throughput without major changes in the communications satellite setup. SADS has been reengineered.

On SLVR's OPEVAL, there were some reliability issues, and BBS interoperability has not been demonstrated at sea yet.

BBS was found to be operationally effective and potentially operationally suitable, with some significant shortcomings. In OPEVAL, one of the radios made an uncommanded transmission, an operational security problem for a submarine. High data rate systems were not tested, and there were interoperability and timing problems with other important radio equipment. However, BBS improves the speed and accuracy with which the submarine radioman makes connections, eliminating one potential source of communications problems. Since OPEVAL, most BBS shortcomings were corrected.

SMB is marginally effective. As a result, it has been placed in a life cycle support status and the submarine force plans to transition to DMS and ADNS. Two SMB upgrades are being developed to correct existing problems and improve near-term functionality, and will be assessed by DOT&E.

The SCSS program has undergone a number of changes, as the Navy works out what communications capabilities it wants for its surface, subsurface and air platforms. As the Navy communications plans emerge from a state of flux, the program is more able to manage development and acquisition of component systems.