Naval Ocean Processing Facility

Naval Ocean Processing Facility
Name	Naval Ocean Processing Facility
Type	United States Navy shore facility
Controlledby	Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Naval Ocean Processing Facility. It is a critical shore-based command and control node within the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS), a global network operated by the United States Navy. These facilities process acoustic and other sensor data from fixed and mobile arrays to provide real-time antisubmarine warfare (ASW) and maritime domain awareness. The information is used to support fleet commanders, including those at United States Pacific Command and United States Fleet Forces Command.

Overview

The primary mission is to serve as a centralized analysis center for undersea surveillance data collected by the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) and its successor, the Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS). Personnel, including ocean systems technicians and analysts from the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, correlate acoustic contacts with intelligence from sources like the National Security Agency to produce a recognized maritime picture. This processed intelligence is disseminated to operational units, such as aircraft carrier strike groups and attack submarines, via networks like the Global Command and Control System.

History

The concept originated during the early Cold War with the development of SOSUS by the Office of Naval Research and industrial partners like Bell Labs and Western Electric. The first processing facilities, then termed Naval Facilities (NAVFACs), were established in the 1950s, with early sites at Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center in the Bahamas and on San Nicolas Island off California. Following the Walker spy ring compromises in the 1980s, the system was declassified and reconfigured. The IUSS was formally established in 1985, consolidating these processing sites under a unified command structure, which later evolved under the Commander, Undersea Surveillance.

Function and capabilities

Core functions involve the continuous monitoring, analysis, and reporting of subsurface activity. Using advanced signal processing algorithms, analysts distinguish between biological sources, such as whales, and man-made contacts like ballistic missile submarines or diesel-electric submarines. The facilities integrate data from multiple sensor platforms, including the Fixed Distributed System (FDS) and mobile assets like the USNS Impeccable (T-AGOS-23), to maintain tracking. This capability is vital for strategic early warning and supports Theater ASW Commander objectives during major exercises like RIMPAC.

Organizational structure

These facilities are typically commanded by a United States Navy officer in the O-5 or O-6 paygrade and fall under the operational control of the Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC). The crew consists of a mix of enlisted specialists, including information systems technicians and intelligence specialists, alongside civilian scientists from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center and contractors. They work in close coordination with other combatant commands, the Office of Naval Intelligence, and allied partners through organizations like the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.

Locations

While specific locations are often classified, known or historically acknowledged sites have included facilities at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington, Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, and Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Cutler in Maine. A significant Pacific hub is located at Ford Island within Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. Other sites have been reported in allied territories, such as at RAF St. Mawgan in the United Kingdom and in the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Associated systems and technologies

The facility's work is enabled by a suite of sophisticated systems. These include the legacy SOSUS arrays, the mobile SURTASS deployed by T-AGOS ships, and the modern Fixed Distributed System (FDS). Data flows via secure satellite communication networks and undersea cables to processing centers. Analysis employs software tools developed under programs like the Acoustic Rapid COTS Insertion (ARCI) and leverages high-performance computing. Future capabilities are tied to programs like the Distributed Agile Submarine Hunting (DASH) and integration with the Space-based infrared system.

Category:United States Navy facilities Category:Naval surveillance Category:Anti-submarine warfare