Hydrophone Incorporating Open Architecture Telemetry

As anti-submarine warfare (ASW) technologies expanded rapidly during the Cold War, towed array systems such as Surveillance Towed Array Sonar System (SURTASS) were deployed with outstanding success at detecting submarines. Later TB-29(A) and TB-34 along with the Multi-Function Towed Array (MFTA) have further increased detection capabilities. This proposal aims to reduce the cost of hydrophone integration into the towed arrays and to complete a study on the optimal design and functionality of the hydrophone.  A significant cost of towed arrays is derived from touch time for assembly of the towed array from the multiple components.  To help reduce costs, a program which standardizes the components of the hydrophone and also reduces the needed assembly time will be implement with the design of the proposed hydrophone.  The program objective is to integrate the ceramic elements with embedded electronics in order to provide a better solution for the Acoustic Channel Assembly (ACA) following the Open Architecture Telemetry standardization.