UDT 2020 Extended Abstract - Alex Key Operational Drivers & Imperatives ASW in a day - a demonstration with minimal impact A. Key 1 1 Systems Engineering & Assessment Ltd (SEA), Beckington Castle, 17 Castle Corner, Beckington, BA11 6TA, UK Abstract — The ability to demonstrate new capability within an operationally representative environment is key to the success of new products and the advancement of defence capability. Such demonstrations are often very time consuming and costly. They take a great deal of planning and can have a significant impact on the availability of the platforms and systems involved. As such, the ability to conduct truly representative trials and demonstrations is rare. This paper will explore how Systems Engineering & Assessment Ltd took part in a large-scale collaborative exercise, demonstrating the ability to fit and operate the Krait Defence System from an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) with the minimum impact in terms of both platform modification and operational downtime. The paper will cover several aspects across the Defence Lines of Development (DLoD) that are key to achieving the rapid deployment of new systems; including the logistics of getting a system delivered and installed quickly and efficiently, the organisation that facilitates the installation and subsequent demonstration, the impact on and relevant considerations of equipment and platform design and the and the training opportunity that exists for the crew to benefit from the demonstration, whilst providing valuable feedback. The paper considers the challenges and lessons learned from taking a completely new Anti-Submarine Warfare system and deploying it from an OPV within a single day. From this, recommendations are made to improve the ability of the enterprise to work collaboratively towards the rapid deployment of new capability. 1 Introduction 3 The trial During September 2019, SEA participated in the NATO The KDS system was installed on the Ocean Patrol Vessel Recognised Environmental Picture (REP) ’19 exercise in (OPV) NRP Figueira da Foz. The trial took place over the partnership with the Portuguese Navy. SEA demonstrated period of 2 weeks during September 2019 [3], with the Krait Defence System (KDS) KraitSense passive numerous trial serials against simulated and live towed array system, as described by C. Tucker at UDT submerged targets, as well as surface targets of 2019 [1]. opportunity. As well as a demonstration of SEA ’ s products, this was an opportunity to demonstrate how a capability 3.1 The system demonstration could be achieved in a quick, efficient and cost-effective manner. Several factors enabled this SEA demonstrated their Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) successful demonstration in a timely manner. Passive Towed Array System KraitSense, which is part of the SEA Krait Defence System product family [4]. The system comprised the following core elements: 2 Aims and objectives KraitArray passive Ultra-Thin Line Towed Array; - G iven the opportunity to participate in the REP ’19 Tow cable; - Winch & fairlead; exercise, SEA aimed not only to provide a compelling - Portable inboard processing hardware; demonstration of the KDS system ASW capability, but - Passive towed array processing software. also to demonstrate how such a capability could be - delivered as quickly and cost effectively as possible for all In order to facilitate the trial serials that were to be run involved and provide a model for rapidly delivering future against a simulated underwater target, SEA also provided capability demonstrations. The primary objectives to a sound source, which was operated from a support vessel. achieve this aim were: SEA also worked with OSI Maritime to integrate Transport all equipment, including support - KraitSense with ECPINS Electronic Chart Display and equipment using commercial shipping services; Information System (ECDIS) [5]. This allowed for live Provide a platform integration solution that requires - exercise serial planning, display of detected targets and minimal or no modification to the host platform; conducting Target Motion Analysis (TMA). Occupy the minimum amount of deck space - possible; Install and set-to-work the system within 48 hours; - Require no specialist facilities or equipment to - install (i.e. dry-dock); Following the demonstration, de-kit within 12 - hours.
UDT 2020 Operational Drivers & Imperatives Extended Abstract - Alex Key 3.2. Delivering the capability demonstration cut to the OSI Maritime ECPINS software, where Target Motion Analysis was conducted to aid target tracking. 3.2.1 Planning phase 3.2.4 De-kit and post analysis During the planning phase, SEA participated in the REP planning conferences, held in Portugal with all Following the trial, the equipment was removed from the stakeholders involved in the REP exercise. SEA was given vessel within 8 hours. Again, a crane was required to access to the host vessel in order to perform a survey. remove the winch, but otherwise this could be done from Access to the vessel in this manner was extremely the dockside. useful and helped to ensure the later stages were well In order to ensure all parties benefited from the planned, as all hard-mounting points, cable runs, power demonstration. The recorded data was shared between sources etc. could be pre-planned well in advance of the SEA and the Portuguese Navy. SEA provided a copy of exercise. the processing software and guidance as to how to process As well as access to the trial, SEA was in dialogue with the data so that the Navy could perform their own post- the Portuguese Navy, including representatives of the event analysis. vessel crew. This early formation of the Navy / industry team ensured that all stakeholders were well informed of 4 Consideration of the DLoD the plans for the demonstration and provided a channel for clarification in both directions. Achieving a capability demonstration with the minimal impact to the host platform and all stakeholders is reliant upon several factors. These are explored in the context of 3.2.2 Installation and setting to work the 9 DLoD. The entire ship fit, and support equipment was collected from SEA ’ s Barnstaple site on 6 th September 2019. It was 4.1 Concepts & Doctrine then transported using a 7.5 t commercial transport lorry from Barnstaple, UK to Lisbon Naval Base, arriving the To ensure efficiency during the planning and execution morning of 9 th September 2019. phases, SEA conformed to standard NATO exercise The SEA trials team met the equipment in at Lisbon formats. This reduced the likelihood of misunderstanding Naval base and was able to install the entire system or ambiguity during the planning and execution of the without modification to the host vessel within 12 hours; exercise and greatly simplified the planning effort by not meeting four of the key objectives. This work was needing to generate trials plans from scratch. completed alongside at Lisbon Naval Base and only SEA also benefitted from having an experienced trials required the use of a crane to move the equipment from the team that were well versed in ASW concepts and doctrine transport vehicle to NRP Figueira da Foz as shown in to assist in the planning and effective execution of the Figure 1. exercise serials. 4.1 Equipment To deliver the capability quickly and with minimal impact, equipment should be designed to be as modular as possible. This allows for rapid reconfiguration to meet the needs of the specific vessel or platform. The equipment should also support a wide range of interfaces, for example power and data. This avoids the need for customisation and modification for each capability demonstration event. In an ideal world ships and other platforms would be Fig. 1. KDS Equipment being unloaded at Lisbon built with a common set of standards to support modular fits. Whilst some efforts are being made to support this in new build ships [6,7], many legacy platforms have no such 3.2.3 Trial conduct and support provision, or what provision there is does not conform to a The trials consisted of several serials, running against a common standard. submerged sound source, live assets and surface targets of Whilst the temptation may be to containerise opportunity. During this time the SEA team was able to everything into an ISO standard container, this presents perform runs in several configurations and refine the several challenges, including: Transportation – although precisely what ISO launch and recovery process. - The crew of NRP Figueira da Foz were able to assist containers were designed for, their size limits with the operations and therefore gain a level of on-the-job transportation options; Handling – larger cranes are required to move the training. - During the trial serials, targets were detected, classified equipment; and localised by the SEA sonar operator using the KDS sonar processing software. Targets of interest were then
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