Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System

Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System. It is a passive sonar system deployed by the United States Navy for long-range detection and tracking of submarines. The system consists of hydrophone arrays towed behind specialized surface ships, primarily T-AGOS vessels, to monitor vast ocean areas. Its development was a critical component of Cold War anti-submarine warfare strategy against the Soviet Navy.

Overview

The primary mission is to provide a persistent, long-range acoustic surveillance capability for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and U.S. Pacific Fleet. Operated by the Military Sealift Command, the system's T-AGOS ships, such as the Victorious-class ocean surveillance ship, patrol designated oceanographic areas. Data collected is analyzed by specialists at facilities like the Naval Ocean Processing Facility in Dam Neck, Virginia. This information contributes to the global Integrated Undersea Surveillance System network.

Development and history

Development began in the 1970s under programs managed by the Naval Sea Systems Command and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. The impetus was the growing threat posed by increasingly quiet Soviet nuclear submarines, such as the Akula-class submarine. The first operational system was deployed in 1984 aboard the USNS Stalwart. Key testing and evaluation occurred at ranges like the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center. The system saw extensive use during the final decade of the Cold War, monitoring areas like the GIUK gap.

Technical specifications

The core component is a long, flexible towed array containing hundreds of hydrophones. This array is deployed from a T-AGOS ship via a sophisticated handling system and towed at depths optimized for sound propagation in the SOFAR channel. The system utilizes advanced signal processing to distinguish submarine signatures from ambient ocean noise. Data is transmitted via SATCOM links to shore-based processing centers. The system is designed for reliability during extended deployments in harsh environments like the North Atlantic Ocean.

Operational use

Ships such as the Victorious-class ocean surveillance ship and Impeccable-class ocean surveillance ship routinely conduct missions worldwide. During the Cold War, these operations were vital for tracking Soviet Navy ballistic missile submarines and attack submarines. The system provided crucial data during naval exercises like Ocean Venture and real-world incidents. In the post-Cold War era, its role expanded to include monitoring potential threats from other nations, such as the People's Liberation Army Navy, and supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Variants and upgrades

The original system, known as SURTASS, has undergone several iterations. A major upgrade was the addition of the Low Frequency Active component, creating the SURTASS LFA system, which sparked environmental controversy and legal challenges from groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council. The TB-29A and TB-33 are examples of advanced thin-line towed arrays used with the system. Modernization efforts, such as the Acoustic Rapid COTS Insertion program, have continually improved processing capabilities. Future integration is planned with the Distributed Surveillance System network.

Category:Anti-submarine warfare Category:United States Navy equipment Category:Naval electronics