UDT 2020 Teaming of Conventional Submarines and XLUUV / Extra-Large Unmanned Platforms UDT Extended Abstract Teaming of Conventional Submarines and XLUUV W. H. Wehner 1 , Dr. C. Fruehling 2 , Dr. B. Lehmann 3 , Dr. T. Wiegang 4 , N. Paul 5 1 Head of Product Architecture Submarines, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Kiel, Germany 2 Head of Design Concepts Submarines, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Kiel, Germany 3 Head of Automation and Autonomy, ATLAS ELEKTRONIK, Bremen, Germany 4 Senior Systems Engineer, ATLAS ELEKTRONIK, Bremen, Germany 5 Product Manager Submarine Systems, ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK, Dorchester, UK Abstract — In the advent of large and capable unmanned systems in the surface and underwater domain, users need operational concepts to operate manned and unmanned assets in teams. Particularly in the submarine domain, extra- large unmanned underwater vehicles (XLUUV) may act as a force multiplier to establish information superiority across larger areas or protect the valuable manned submarines. Staying stealth and covert is a key driver for manned submarines. The authors show, what systems and features future-proof submarines will have in order to operate with unmanned maritime vehicles. Sensitive communications between the assets is of utmost importance. thyssenkrupp Marine Systems sets standards with implementing NATO’s digital underwater acoustic communication protocol JANUS (STA NAG 4748) and IFS (STANAG 1481) into their submarine’s sensor suite and processing. Exemplary scenarios describe the benefits and possible drawbacks of teamed operation. The authors present modes of communication as well as thoughts on the logistics of bringing the XLUUV into the theatre and back to port. The status and outlook on underwater vehicle autonomy gives the audience a realistic view on the vehicles capabilities. In addition, the paper presents ideas for retrofitting the hard- and software needed for manned/unmanned teaming with already existing platforms. The paper provides illustrative concept designs for thyssenkrupp Marine Systems future class of XLUUVs. It focusses on the XLUUV platform and why and how to make the XLUUV as stealthy as the submarine. thyssenkrupp’s approach will assure flexibility of future submarine designs across their life cycle when they can be supplemented by XLUUV. The paper discusses the interactions in both design and operation of manned and unmanned assets. An outlook presents the roadmap of next steps and ways for military users to shape the development. 1 Introduction founding of the People's Republic of China indicates that they too see benefits in this technology. [6] Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisici elit, sed eiusmod tempor incidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequat. Quis aute iure reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint obcaecat cupiditat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. “ At the core of future military advantage will be the effective integration of humans and machines into war fighting systems that outperform our opponents. ” [1] This paper does not cover lethal autonomous weapon system (LAWS). It covers integration of conventional submarines with non-organic UUV. This means that the Fig. 1. BLOCKER . [7] UUV is not launched, carried, refuelled or the like from 2 Scenario the submarine. Numerous programs around the world indicate a potential benefit of using unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) for anti-submarine warfare [2]. The Anti-Submarine Warfare has returned in focus of most needed vehicles are most likely large and classified as Navies in the last years, after a long period of negligence extra-large unmanned underwater vehicles (XLUUV). and submarine dominance in the underwater domain, as a Availability of unmanned platforms for the tasks is result of the end of Cold War. The new ASW initiative is limited. The last few years showed programs in the US strongly enhanced by new emerging technologies like with significant funding and recently in the UK [3], [4], multi-static low frequency active sonar (LFA). In post- [5]. Little is known about efforts in more restrictive cold war operations, manned submarines were countries like China and Russia. Sporadic information like increasingly used for information gathering. Having showing an XLUUV at the 70th anniversary of the 1
UDT 2020 UDT Extended Abstract flexible and loitering UUV capability for ISR tasks might XLUUV would enable a friendly submarine to carry out be charming. Depending on time-criticality of the ASW operations. information, thought has to be put into data analysis and communication capability of the unmanned asset. 2.3 Operational interactions UUV can be used for dull tasks like protection of critical Fig X shows the roles of the individual assets as well as infrastructure (like sea cables) [8] [7]. operational advantages of the teaming. The teaming supports the strength of the submarine as asymmetric asset, when the XLUUV acts as sound source and only uni- directional communication from XLUUV to submarine is foreseen. The submarine can then detect and engage enemy submarines without giving its position away. Fig. x. Scenario sketch . Fig. x. Scenario assumptions – restricted own capabilities . Fig. x. Team roles within multi-static active ASW . 3 Technology Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisici elit, sed eiusmod tempor incidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequat. Quis aute iure reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint obcaecat cupiditat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. 3.1 Communication and IFF Fig. x. Scenario assumptions – location . Particularly when the UUV is not launched from the 2.1 Operational environment platform it is supposed to team with (non-organic), IFF (identification friend-foe) is of utmost importance. [10] G. Ferri et. al highlight underwater domain challenges [9] This paper refers to the JANUS underwater communications standard, which is supported by 2.2 Boundary Conditions thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. [11] The scenario assumes opponent ’ s dominance in the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS). Therefore there is no 3.2 Stealth EMS bandwidth available for remote control or uni- /bidirectional communication. Fig. X reflects this C. Fruehling describes target echo strength (TES) reduced assumption, as well as no availability of friendly surface submarine designs [12]. In figure n, a generic and air assets. With these assumptions, one or multiple thyssenkrupp Marine Systems ’ XLUUV is illustrated. Its inclined walls characterise the TES-reduced shape. 2
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