The Office of Naval Research, supported by the Naval Research Laboratory as technical agent, is pushing ahead with development, over the next three years, of a multifunction electronic warfare (MEW) module for fielding on board the Navy's first DD(X) land-attack destroyer.
The new module, which initially will perform electronic support functions, will be derived from the Office of Naval Research's advanced multifunction radio-frequency concept (AMRF-C), an initiative now being showcased at a live test bed at the Naval Research Laboratory's Chesapeake Bay detachment near Annapolis, Maryland.
The AMRF-C effort aims at developing sets of antenna apertures that can handle simultaneously the transmission and reception of the radio-frequency signals of shipboard communications, radar, and electronic warfare systems. The AMRF-C apertures would enable the fleet to reduce dramatically the number of single-function "stovepipe" antennas now required on board surface combatants, carriers, and amphibious assault ships and thereby reduce the costs of building, operating, and supporting those systems-while reducing ship electromagnetic signatures.
The DD(X) program, managed within the Program Executive Office for Ships, originally planned to adopt an advanced integrated electronic warfare system to be developed by Lockheed Martin. The Navy terminated the system's program in March 2002 because of performance deficiencies, schedule slips, and excessive costs, leaving the DD(X) without an electronic warfare capability.
Navy acquisition officials say the canceled program was an ambitious attempt to replace the obsolescent SLQ-32(v) electronic warfare system, hundreds of which are in service. The program was being designed to handle both electronic support (consisting of a receive subsystem that analyzes communications and radar signals emitted by hostile platforms) and electronic attack (consisting of active jamming of enemy radars and missile seekers).
In early October 2004, the AMRF-C electronic warfare alternative began a technology development phase to be completed in fiscal year 2007. During that phase, the program's team will develop and test an advanced model that will provide the electronic-support capabilities needed for the DD(X). This model will consist of a single-face, array-based, receive-only system, including required antennas, analog and digital signal-processing capabilities, system control and timing components, displays, and the software needed to integrate it all with the DD(X) combat system.
Program officials say the model's architecture also eventually will support the active electronic attack capability needed for the DD(X) in time to dovetail with the DD(X) schedule for leadship delivery in 2011.
As the effort proceeds, the Office of Naval Research and Naval Research Laboratory will continue demonstrations that began earlier this fall of the full AMRF-C architecture at the Chesapeake test bed. The system is aimed at transition to future ships, including the CVN-21 aircraft carrier, CG-21 cruiser, and potentially for submarine and aircraft applications.
The AMRF-C test bed, with components housed in 12-by-8-by-8-foot conex containers, consists of a broadband system with separate receive and transmit antennas, covering frequencies from 6 to 18 gigahertz, that can receive and transmit communications, radar, and electronic-warfare signals all at the same time. The transmit and receive arrays are set up ten feet apart. Because they are physically and electromagnetically isolated, Office of Naval Research managers say, the arrays can operate simultaneously without interference.
To demonstrate communications functionality, the test bed system already has carried out simultaneous downlinks from the Telstar 11 and 12 commercial communications satellites operating in the X-band of the radio-frequency spectrum, the X-band Defense Satellite Communications System, and the X-band common data link and Ku-band tactical common data link.
For radar, Office of Naval Research officials say AMRF-C may not replace the unique X-band and S-band radars needed for target-detection and fire-control functions (for example, for major shipboard weapons). It will be able to assume the functions of surface-search, navigation, force-protection, and air-traffic-control radar antenna arrays.
Office of Naval Research managers say the MEW initiative is leading the way for AMRF-C technology to transition to acquisition for the fleet. The Office of Naval Research's management of MEW development enables the office to play a unique role in critical acquisition decisions. Officials add that for the completed system, the participation of multiple companies, all of which are accustomed to acting as major systems integrators, will qualify them to compete for a potential role as prime contractor for a full AMRF-C system for the future fleet.