Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Rapidly Provides Supportable AT/FP
Technical Solutions to America's War Fighter
By Dustin L. Wilson , Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane
There is no question that recent terrorist attacks and world events have brought about a heightened sense of urgency for protecting Navy personnel, equipment, installations, and high value assets from the asymmetric threat. It is also certain there is no "Silver Bullet" in existence today that will protect America's war fighter in any given situation. In fact, integrated solution sets are required to protect the Fleet providing a layered defense-in-depth coverage of areas of interest. More often than not, technology is called upon as the core solution to AT/FP (Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection) concerns which burden the Fleet with increased manpower requirements for watch standing, patrols, and access control of gates, perimeters, and piers.
Finding and applying the appropriate technical solution set to mitigate rapidly emerging threats lies at the heart of what NAVSEA Warfare Centers do best. Industry provides a host of great technical tools that need to be tested and proved safe, reliable, and supportable in real-life naval environments. NAVSEA Warfare Centers combine the appropriate facilities and expertise with the knowledge and foresight of real fleet problems to provide technical solutions for today's Navy, tomorrow's Navy and the Navy after next. Each NAVSEA Warfare Center provides a technical and support service "niche" which covers the spectrum of required technical capability from Research and Design to Application and Systems Engineering, Fielding, and In-Service Support of these AT/FP products.
NAVSEA's ability to map the appropriate Warfare Center's niche to meet fleet needs is paramount in the ever-changing world of AT/FP requirements. An example of one niche lies at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) who is called upon to rapidly provide supportable integrated AT/FP solutions to the deck-plate sailor in just a few months time. NSWC Crane contends the success of quickly providing AT/FP solutions revolves around the willingness to interact and partner with both Surface and Undersea Warfare Centers where a host of technical answers are found and quickly applied based on a backlog of lessons learned residing at each activity.
NSWC Crane Division's "hands-on" approach utilizes existing programs of record or off-the-shelf equipment that can be rapidly modified for use in a new way. This is very similar to meeting the past and present needs of NSWC Crane's many Navy Special Warfare customers. Most of the technology at NSWC Crane such as Physical Security Equipment, Night Vision, Chemical Biological and Explosive Detection, Radar, Small Arms and Ammunition, Acoustic Sensors, and many more are already supported and the appropriate facilities and expertise are available with little to no up-front investment.
The Integrated Radar Optical Surveillance and Sighting System (IROS3) is one example by which Navigation Radar, Global Positioning System (GPS), 24-Hour Imaging Electro-Optic and Night Vision capability, Stabilized Small Arms, High Powered Search Lights, Digital Nautical Charts, and High Resolution Displays are integrated together to provide a common tactical scene for ship's forces to maintain 24-hour Situational Awareness (SA) between watch standers, patrol boats, piers, and shore based stations. IROS³ is the overarching AT/FP shipboard architecture that integrates sensor information and communication data while also combining automated engagement capability to protect high-value surface assets pier side at anchorage and while transiting restricted waterways. A typical program of this nature would take years to develop, but by utilizing existing equipment which has matured over time and integrating it using a net-centric open architecture approach is allowing the time span from concept development to shipboard installation to occur in 11months. Key AT/FP technology enablers such as IROS³ reduce the labor burdens to meet current and expected AT/FP readiness levels by integrating stove-piped sensor data into a common workstation. The ability to share a common tactical scene between watch standers, shore stations and patrol boats is paramount to mitigating asymmetric threats. IROS³ declares the intent of a potentially hostile waterborne target and provides complete Detection-to- Engagement (DTE) sequence at a tactically significant range necessary to deter or defeat the threat. IROS3 will be installed and tested this summer aboard USS RAMAGE (DDG-61).
(See Figure 1 ATFP: Integrated Radar Optical Surveillance and Sighting System coming this summer to DDG-61)
In some instances, AT/FP problems need solutions in days as opposed to months, requiring the installation of AT/FP equipment to be rapidly delivered and fielded to meet battle group deployments. At times like this.old fashion innovation and strategic planning is key. By using NSWC Crane small arms expertise, NAVSEA was able to deploy over 50 GAU (Gun Automated Units) 17 mini guns into the hands of two battle groups comprised of over 20 ships. This isn't that amazing until you factor in that it was accomplished in 45 days and also included the tasks of preparing for A condition readiness, obtaining Weapons Safety approval, providing Logistics Support and On-Board Training. This gun will be utilized in the IROS3 concept on the ROSAM (Remote Operated Small Arms Mount) gun mount that was also previously developed at NSWC Crane for USSOCOM (United States Special Operations Command) for a similar mission. Where did the GAU 17s come from so quickly one may ask? They came from being deployed on US Navy UH1 and H60 helicopters!
(See Figure 2 ATFP: ROSAM Gun Mount)
Many interesting examples of innovation and hard work can be given across NAVSEA for meeting Navy AT/FP emerging threats. Whatever the need arises, NAVSEA Warfare Centers are standing by to map the appropriate AT/FP technical solution to the problem. Whether the system needs invented or a healthy tweak and a fresh new look, NAVSEA Warfare Centers like NSWC Crane are committed to protecting America's war fighter!
(See Figure 3 ATFP: GAU 17 Mini Gun)
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