In situ acoustic measurements of transmission loss for improving the effectiveness of antisubmarine warfare sonar searches in tactical scenarios. Free

The execution of sonar search plans against submarines by antisubmarine warfare ships is not as effective as it could be, especially in littoral waters. The reason is that the high spatial and temporal variability of the water environment cannot be accurately characterized as inputs into models leading to the sonar equation, used for the prediction of sonar detection ranges, the primary input into search plans. The effectiveness of search can be significantly improved, however, by adding the use of in situ acoustic measurements of transmission loss to the mix of measurements currently used by tactical forces. This paper foresees improvements in the accuracy in use of the sonar equation, despite the likely incompleteness of in situ acoustic measurements of transmission loss relative to the entire field that would be desired to be measured. Acoustic measurements of transmission loss will bring into consideration a degree of ground truth into search that has not been realized tactically heretofore. The more effective search will translate to a closer to optimum use of navy ships, aircraft, and submarines, and a saving of fuel and search time. Accordingly, this concept should be analyzed and modeled to determine if it is worth investigating more thoroughly.