Stand-off anti-submarine warfare engagement

The outcomes should contribute to:

• Incentive EDTIB to invest in the development of innovative stand-off ASW engagement capabilities.
• Reduce development risk for EDTIB.
• Reduce time to market of the required capability.

Modern submarines are equipped with long-range heavy weight torpedoes (HWT) or sub launched anti-ship missiles. Both effectors normally exceed the range of surface ships organic underwater sensors and effectors. To be able to engage adversary submarines outside the torpedo danger zone, usually lightweight torpedoes (LWT) are deployed by aerial assets equipped with underwater (UW) sensors, such as organic anti-submarine warfare (ASW) Helicopters or Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA). Alternatively, torpedoes can be equipped with a booster rocket to engage submarines at range.

However, aerial assets are dependent on weather conditions and bound to deck-cycle times, limiting their availability. Additionally, current developments could lead to an air defence capability of submerged submarines, putting valuable manned airborne assets at risk.

It is essential for the survivability of a surface warship to be able to engage and neutralise an adversary submarine outside its effective weapon range when the mission dictates that evasion is not possible. The engagement capability must consequently be available at any time and within short notice, even outside of the deck cycles of the organic aircraft or availability of non-organic aircraft.

Specific objective

Market available rocket-launched torpedoes like the VL ASROC or MILAS are being launched from the Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) or upper deck surface-to-surface missile (SSM) containers, therefore consuming the very limited space and weight that could otherwise be used for air defence missiles or strike capabilities, increasingly required for present and future Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) threat environment, to achieve the Surface Warfare mission.

Current developments in the field of torpedo technology aim at developing very-lightweight torpedoes (VLWT) and ultra-lightweight torpedoes (ULWT). In combination with market available or tailored unmanned vehicles or rocket propulsion, these could provide a cost effective, flexible and lightweight, long-range stand-off ASW capability with a small footprint on the system “surface warship”. Furthermore, some of these technologies may offer cost-effective solutions to engage larger Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) as well. However, these new developments pose new challenges because of a reduced underwater effective range and the simultaneous requirement for extended range for transfer from the launching unit to the target area and with greater precision, delivering the effector at shorter range from its target, by suitable means to be determined. The surface warship requires an optimisation of its UW sensor suite for the prerequisite long-range detection and classification of targets with higher accuracy and update rates, which must be addressed before these new stand-off capabilities can develop their full potential.

Future multi-domain mission profiles require enhanced firepower distributed on board smaller size surface combatants, demanding for new and more flexible approach that delivers solutions able to be integrated in a multi-mission or multi- weapons bay, where both offboard and onboard sensors and effectors, can be loaded and integrated in a mission tailored configuration.

In addition, economical aspects are relevant factors. The aim of this activity is the identification of feasible common effector components, like V/ULW torpedoes or depth charges, which can be deployed by systems, which are usable for other purposes or in other warfare areas or even other warfare domains as well, like Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)/ Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) for reconnaissance and surveillance, affordable precision strike capability, or deploying sensors like sonobuoys, in a configuration similar to the multiple launch rocket system. This approach may allow greater degree of flexibility for the procurement of systems and as well reduce individual integration, certification and storage footprints thus increasing their viability for navies of EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries.

Proposals should cover the definition of a respective preliminary system design and plan for demonstration of a stand-off ASW engagement capability from sensor to effector.

Different combinations of sensor systems, delivery systems and effectors should be investigated, with the view of a concept of optimised solutions that enable engagements against submerged submarines and larger UUV at ranges exceeding 40nm.

The activities must aim at establishing a common understanding of the problem, a thorough investigation of different technologies and available products and simulation activities to conceptually define the most promising combination, eventually including one alternative for distinction with regard to effectivity, diversity of technological approaches, and economical aspects.

The activity must include a plan for a way forward towards a full-fledged capability solution. The proposal should seek for complementarity and avoid unnecessary duplication with other ongoing cooperation activities and projects in the same domain.

Types of activities

The following types of activities are eligible for this topic:

Accordingly, the proposals must cover at least the following tasks as part of mandatory activities:

• Generating Knowledge, Integrating Knowledge, and Studies:
  • Feasibility study on V/ULWT for long-range ASW engagement, assessing their performance (e.g., in terms of range, speed, accuracy, payload capacity), evaluating their integration on UxVs and rocket propulsion systems.
  • Feasibility study on UW sensor suites for long-range detection. The study must cover gaps and limitations in current sensor systems.
  • Explore the use of UAVs and USVs for deploying ASW effectors.
  • Evaluate the existing capabilities of legacy UAVs and USVs to carry and deploy V/ULWT.
  • Perform a cost-benefit analysis of various ASW engagement technologies and approaches.
  • Perform a market and technology analysis, providing a comprehensive picture of possible launch platforms for Stand-off ASW weapons and provide a technology roadmap for the development of the capability.

In addition, the following tasks should be performed:

• Studies:
  • Explore the use of UAVs and USVs for deploying ASW sensors and conduct reconnaissance operations.
• Design:
  • Simulation activities should be performed in order to evaluate suitable combinations, optimal configurations and operational scenarios for further development.
  • Simulate various sensor deployments scenarios to determine the most effective configurations (related with the optimisation of UW sensor suites).
  • Provide a draft concept and architecture.

Functional requirements

The consortium should elaborate common requirements for stand-off ASW engagement capability in collaboration with the parent navies, including description of scenarios and SOPs.

Core functional requirements should include the following:

• The system should be deployable from several platforms, from frigate-sized warships to systems such as Large UxV (all-domain), and helicopters.
• The system should be installable on missile launching systems in accordance with relevant standards, such as applicable NATO standards.
• The systems should be deployable day and night, 24/7, and in non-favourable environmental conditions.
• The system should cover ranges exceeding the submarine’s effective weapon range (>40nm).
• The system should be interoperable in a sensor-to-effector chain, including interface specifications with other system elements like Combat Management Systems or (secure and resilient) communication systems. VLS solution should enable use with current standards, but not be limited to these. Containerised solutions sharing commonality with other armed services or branches and requiring small deck space, up to 20-foot container size, on board should also be considered.
• The system should be accreditable according to NATO standards.