Ocean Through the Sensor (TTS) Update

Traditional geoacoustic and ocean data collection efforts by skilled scientists will always be a cornerstone of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography (MetOc) Program. In recent years however, other methods have been explored to further expand the scope of these data collection efforts. This effort has been driven, in part, by a declining MetOc Program Budget combined with other programmatic considerations both within and outside the Naval MetOc Program. PEO C41 and Space PMW 150, in conjunction with CNMOC, NAVOCEANO, NAVSEA, NAVAIR, and scientists from ONR, NRL, and various National Laboratories and industry, are focused on developing new methods to sense the environment, either through direct or inferred measurements, using tactical sensors. One of these efforts is focused on the development of Through-The-Sensor (TTS) technology. This effort seeks to use data from tactical sensors to characterize the battlespace environment. These data can then be used in Fleet Tactical Decision Aids (TDAs) to modify ASW and MIW tactics and enhance situational awareness at the single ship, Carner Strike Group (CSG), Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) and Theater USW (TUSW) level. Near term efforts include the exploitation of various mine-hunting sensors such as the AOS-20 and side scan sonar and submarine sensors such as the Precision Undersea Mapper (PUMA) and tactical towed arrays. Exploitation of sensors further on the horizon include submarine sensors such as the submarine CTD and fathometer (BON-17), the surface ship Instrumented Tow Cable (lTC), and the air community's Tactical Acoustic Measurement (TAM) Buoy.