The Office of Naval Research. Naval Research Laboratory, the Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems, and Northrop Grumman Electronics Systems sector will hold a critical design review in May for an advanced development model of a multi-function electronic warfare system, or MFEW. that the Navy plans to field on board the DD(X) next-generation destroyers.
Following the review. Northrop Grumman, which in September 2005 won an Office of Naval Research contract to build the advanced development model, will start work on the unit. It is scheduled for delivery to the Naval Research Laboratory's Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, facility in April 2007 for testing aimed at the start of system-design development in 2008.
The multi-function system represents the electronic-warfare component of a proposed Integrated Digital Arrays and Radar (IDAR) Innovative Naval Prototype (INP) initiative, managed by Office of Naval Research's Information, Electronics, and Surveillance Department. The prototype program. started in 2004. pursues high-risk, high-payoff technologies, called "game-changers" by former Chief of Naval Research, retired Rear Admiral Jay Cohen, which could have a decisive impact on naval warfare in the future.
The proposed digital arrays and radar effort would develop common radio-frequency antenna-array technologies for integration in a limited number of arrays that, when installed on board surface combatants, aircraft carriers, and large amphibious assault ships, will be capable of handling communications, radar, and electronic-warfare signals, eliminating the need for separate arrays for each radio-frequency system.
The integrated arrays prototype is based on breakthroughs achieved in an Office of Naval Research program called the Advanced Multi-Function Radio Frequency Concept (AMRF-C) that, beginning in the late 1990s, evaluated technologies to support development of antenna apertures that could handle multiple beam forms. The initiative responded to Navy concerns that the growing communications, radar, and electronic-warfare performance requirements of new ships demanded an increasing number of antennas, operating at dozens of frequency bands. The proliferation of antennas on board surface combatants has increased the danger of radio-frequency interference, requiring strict limits on when systems can be employed, as well as higher procurement, training, and support costs.
Technologies developed for this concept by Lockheed Martin. Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman were successfully demonstrated in late 2004. Earlier, however the DD(X) program faced a capability gap since the Navy's termination, in March 2002. of work on an advanced integrated electronic-warfare system that had been planned for the class. Program Executive Office and Office of Naval Research officials determined that the electronic warfare component of the multi-function radio frequency concept, through further development, can meet the DD(X) requirement for high probability of intercept, precision direction finding, and specific emitter identification capability.
In September 2004 the Office of Naval Research completed a MFEW key electronic warfare requirements document. The document was incorporated in a DD(X) program electronic warfare specification in March 2005. That September, the Office of Naval Research and the Naval Sea Systems Command selected a design for the multifunction system advanced development model developed by Northrop Grumman from among a half-dozen industry proposals.
The MFEW work is being pursued as a supporting product within an Office of Naval Research "Enabling Capability" designated Multi-Source ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) for the warfighter, which addresses Sea Shield, one of the four pillars of the Navy Sea Power 21 strategic vision. Through a spiral development effort that will add new electronicwarfare functions incrementally. the multi-function electronic-warfare system will be installed and go through operational evaluation on board the first DD(X) in 2011.
Multi-function electronic-warfare modules will be configured for backfit for surface combatants, carriers, and the Wasp (LHD-1) and San Antonio (LPD-17) classes of amphibious ships. Work is also proceeding on a low-cost precision direction-finding variant for the littoral combat ship. This version would have a single array instead of the four array panels used for the full system, and a significantly reduced number of array elements and receivers.
The Office of Naval Research meanwhile is continuing discussions with the Ship, Integrated Warfare Systems, and C^sup 4^I and Space Program Executive Offices, as well as the Naval Air Systems Command on support for continued development of an "open" radio-frequency architecture for the proposed IDAR INP. They note that while the AMRF-C work demonstrated the promise of multifunction apertures for shipboard applications, the Integrated Digital Arrays and Radar program is focused on reducing development and manufacturing costs. The drive for an open radio-frequency architecture based on the use of standard interfaces would allow multiple industry sources to provide components. Naval research officials hope to complete the current work on defining radio-frequency standards with industry and Navy acquisition partners in time to start the effort in 2008.