Lockheed Martin, Navy team up to deploy communications buoys for submarines
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted July 12th 2010 7:59PM
posted July 12th 2010 7:59PM
Lockheed Martin Successfully Completes Critical Design Review for U.S. Navy's Communications at Speed and Depth Program
MARION, Mass., July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- A Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)-led industry team has completed a successful critical design review for a system that will give U.S. Navy submarines real-time, two-way communications without requiring platforms to proceed to periscope depth. The review clears the way for the team to begin producing hardware and to deliver engineering design models in early 2011.
Currently, submarines must come to periscope depth to communicate with other ships, aircraft or shore facilities. This increases the submarine's detection vulnerability and may result in a large delay in tactical communications. The new system, which can be installed on all classes of submarines, is called Communications at Speed and Depth (CSD).
"The CSD program fills a major gap identified in the Undersea Dominance Roadmap," said Brent Starr, the Navy's CSD principal acquisition program manager. "Successfully completing this review is a key indicator that we have designed a robust family of systems."
Lockheed Martin will deliver three types of two-way communications buoys and associated equipment for installation aboard submarines and ashore. Two tethered expendable communications buoy systems -- for Iridium satellite and ultra high frequency communications -- will be launched from submarines. The third is an acoustic-to-radio-frequency gateway system that can be launched from submarines and aircraft. The $35 million contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin in January of 2009 and includes the production of buoys for development tests and operational assessments.
"The CSD systems will keep submarines connected to the Global Information Grid far beneath the water's surface, helping submariners remain safe and hidden from enemy radars," said Rod Reints, Lockheed Martin's senior program manager for CSD. "Submarines are most vulnerable when they must surface to use communication systems. This program eliminates that vulnerability."
The Lockheed Martin-led CSD team includes; Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems and ERAPSCO, a joint venture between USSI, Inc. and Sparton Corporation.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.
For additional information, visit our website: http://www.lockheedmartin.com
SOURCE Lockheed Martin
MARION, Mass., July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- A Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)-led industry team has completed a successful critical design review for a system that will give U.S. Navy submarines real-time, two-way communications without requiring platforms to proceed to periscope depth. The review clears the way for the team to begin producing hardware and to deliver engineering design models in early 2011.
Currently, submarines must come to periscope depth to communicate with other ships, aircraft or shore facilities. This increases the submarine's detection vulnerability and may result in a large delay in tactical communications. The new system, which can be installed on all classes of submarines, is called Communications at Speed and Depth (CSD).
"The CSD program fills a major gap identified in the Undersea Dominance Roadmap," said Brent Starr, the Navy's CSD principal acquisition program manager. "Successfully completing this review is a key indicator that we have designed a robust family of systems."
Lockheed Martin will deliver three types of two-way communications buoys and associated equipment for installation aboard submarines and ashore. Two tethered expendable communications buoy systems -- for Iridium satellite and ultra high frequency communications -- will be launched from submarines. The third is an acoustic-to-radio-frequency gateway system that can be launched from submarines and aircraft. The $35 million contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin in January of 2009 and includes the production of buoys for development tests and operational assessments.
"The CSD systems will keep submarines connected to the Global Information Grid far beneath the water's surface, helping submariners remain safe and hidden from enemy radars," said Rod Reints, Lockheed Martin's senior program manager for CSD. "Submarines are most vulnerable when they must surface to use communication systems. This program eliminates that vulnerability."
The Lockheed Martin-led CSD team includes; Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems and ERAPSCO, a joint venture between USSI, Inc. and Sparton Corporation.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.
For additional information, visit our website: http://www.lockheedmartin.com
SOURCE Lockheed Martin
Back in the 60's, I had a weather changing machine that was, in essence, a sophisticated heat beam which we called a "laser." Using these "lasers," we punch a hole in the protective layer around the Earth, which we scientists call the "Ozone Layer." Slowly but surely, ultraviolet rays would pour in, increasing the risk of skin cancer. That is unless the world pays us a hefty ransom.
@Psyclotr0n
so today is military day at engadget.
@ssguy Communications buoys aren't new...they've been around for a very long time...
@Psyclotr0n
Dr. Evil in Austin Powers?
HAARP project based in Tesla death ray?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjk_N2Ag9hE
@nightsd01
Yeah I'm sure they used them in the movie Crimson Tide.
shrooms?
I am honestly surprised it took this long to create essentially a communications device on a rope.
@DigitalN
Maybe they thought the same thing I did, "that's a terrible idea." Once they couldn't think up a better solution they said, "eff it, just make it."
@DigitalN
I read it and I thought to myself "why is this new...? it doesn't really seem that advanced"
@DigitalN
Well, I bet you know nothing about the complexities of the design of a "communications device on a rope" besides, perhaps, a tin can with a piece of string, so keep being surprised.
The sub-launched buoys are sent out from the TDU (aka Trash Dispensing Unit) Take that for what it's worth.
Psh the submarine isn't made by apple, it sucks, and it can multitask! Multitasking is for losers!
/s
@That guy 2
With Apple designs problem, I don't them to design any antenna.
Don't you think people might notice a bunch of bouys floating around the place and think of hey there might be a sub under here ?
@dagetz
i think i noticed a phanbouy down there...
@dagetz A 40 inch buoy, likely designed to have low observability, in the midst of the entire ocean? That's what you call possible, but not plausible.
@Redeye
It's bigger then a periscope and they can spot that.
@dagetz Fair enough, but do they spot periscopes or moving periscopes? They should just make it look like a piece of drift wood or a dead fish, hah.
@dagetz
It's just a bit over 3 feet, and who knows just how much is actually exposed above the surface. It's not a big deal, especially compared to taking the entire sub to periscope depth.
Imagine if they had these a few decades ago. Crimson Tide would've never happened! =p
@paul34 see I'm certainly not a sub expert but I thought the whole point of going below periscope depth was to obscure the sub from radar and the like....I don't see how they won't be able to detect the bouys with ropes attached to them or the noise from the acoustics....silent hunter ftw btw haha
@dagetz
the ocean is full of junk, nobody would notice.
Seaquest dsv that old show from 1993 used one and it was struck by lightning and f'd up the entire ship when they were searching for a French sightseeing sub that got sucked into a Atlantic sink hole. It was full of kids. Don't worry though that guy from jaws rescued them by means of a high-tech mcguyver stunt.
They stole this idea from the Dharma Initiative.
I wouldn't mind working for Lockheed Martin.
I wonder if it can be used to pinpoint them. XO
maybe Lockheed Martin can find a solution for the Iphone lol
@Level A solution already exists. http://www.android.com/
@Redeye
Zing!
They should call them wiskers
Communication buoys are not new.
I swear they were in the Crimson Tide movie.
I hope they have the tethering plan
Admitting I'm old enough to remember dialing in to BBSes with a 14.4K modem, I can only imagine how annoying this huge modem is going to sound to all the underwater creatures within a few miles of this buoy.
The idea of this kind of communication is about as old as the platform on that P3 Orion in the picture. I'm sure the truth of how much data they can pass, and at what frequencies will be more sophisticated than a simple Skype connection, and much more expensive.
@RWD fan LOL. You are so right about that! I used to fly P3s and that was 30 years ago!
So next time I'm swimming in the atlantic I could get hit by a stupid buoy on my head...
So what. More money wasted on useless DOD tech.
Submarines are SOOO crucial these days and can help us crush the Taliban and find Osama Bin Laden.
How about we divert the funds to upgrade our Internet infrastructure and aging power grid.
how do the dolphins fair in all this?