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Session 9C
Thursday 1100
Weapons and Countermeasures III
Weapons
Session Chair: Cdr Michele Ingrassia, Eurotorp, France
9C.1 Tomahawk Maintenance Information Transfer Tool
S J Cookinham, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, USA
The Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS) Maintenance Information Transfer Tool (TMITT) is a Windows-based application that facilitates export of missile maintenance data from a host platform to interested shore-based facilities and imports specific data to the host platform from validated external sources. Implementation of these capabilities takes advantage of the United States (US) Department of Defense (DoD) Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) mandate in that the import/export functions utilize Extensible Markup Language to define/validate data and Web Services to accomplish data transfers.
TMITT is a capability to be installed on every Tomahawk firing unit (FRU) to support the needs of the In-Service Engineering Agent (ISEA) to gather accurate maintenance information from each missile upon return from deployment and to provide relevant information for each missile before deployment.
Once deployed, TMITT will insure that critical maintenance information is automatically provided to subscribing activities in a timely manner with guaranteed accuracy.
9C.2 MK48 Mod 6AT Torpedo Update
B McKeon, A Tyler, P Lemieux, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, USA
Last briefed at UDT June 2006, the concept of using proven existing low cost components with state of the art hardware and software technology, to develop affordable hybrid torpedoes to meet tomorrow's threat, has proven extremely successful. While discussing the concept for all weapons in general in 2006, this abstract focuses on the success of the concept with the MK48 Mod 6AT. The USN has developed a new heavyweight torpedo called the MK48 Mod 6 Advanced Technology (AT), which integrates the MK48 Mod 6 guidance and control system with MK48 Mode 4 warhead and propulsion system. Mod 6 AT has both swimout and ejection launch capability, which makes it compatible with virtually all submarine platforms. This exciting development opens the door to rapid, low cost replacement of so many obsolescent ASW and ASuW weapons to counter tomorrow's threats for the USN and its allies. Recent Foreign Military Sale of the weapon to the Brasilian Navy, and several Requests for Information (RFIs) from USN allies is tribute to the success of the development. The presentation will include a history of the development and testing regime, both land-based and in-water.
9C.3 Changing the Torpedo Development and Acquisition Strategy to Significantly Improve Weapon Capability While Reducing Cost and Schedule Risk to the Program
B McKeon, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, USA
This paper will outline the rapid changes that are currently being implemented by the Undersea Weapons Program Office (PMS404) as a result of a recent LEAN initiative and the implementation of the Torpedo Modular Upgrade (TMU) Program. The result is called the Torpedo Enterprise Transition. The purpose of the Torpedo Modular Upgrade (TMU) is to greatly improve the overall weapon inventory effectiveness (average Teff for torpedo warshot inventory) while minimizing the cost of development and ownership of Lightweight and Heavyweight Torpedoes. The program will leverage off of the inherent modularity of the torpedo and provide step improvement of integrated hardware and software to the fleet. The program will leverage off of already existing elements of the torpedo enterprise. The synergistic planning of current funding for RDT&E, WPN, and OMN funded projects will maximize program effectiveness while providing more seamless transitions of technology and capability to the fleet. The LEAN initiatives undertaken by the Undersea Program Office will provide significant reduction in the Work in Process (WIP) inventory of weapons in the upgrade process and thereby increasing the ready for issue war-shots for the Navy’s use.
The planned upgrades to the torpedo will provide outside organizations (academia, government, and industry) the opportunity to inject their innovative products and technologies into the torpedo. By providing planned hardware and software upgrades and involving industry, academia, and government organizations in the forward planning of LWT and HWT programs, the torpedo program will realize a significant benefit in providing robust options to meet torpedo requirements. Furthermore, the planning will provide insight of the program objectives to all organizations involved in torpedo enterprise including OPNAV, DOT&E, COTF, DCAS, logistics agencies, contracting officials, Pentagon representatives, congressional representatives, and Fleet commands. Furthermore, the program will provide a valuable tool on torpedo development and maintenance planning/metrics for Countries that partner with, or plan to partner with, the US in torpedo development.
The implementation of the TMU program will rely greatly on a team of industry, government, and academia lead by the torpedo integrator NUWC and the Undersea Weapons Program Office representative, to participate in the planned improvements to the weapon.
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