US Navy test-launches SSTD countermeasure anti-torpedo system

[CougarKing]

First Carrier Countermeasure Anti-Torpedo Launched
Team Submarine Public Affairs
6/6/2013


USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) conducted the first aircraft carrier-borne end-to-end at-sea test of the Surface Ship Torpedo Defense (SSTD) System, May 15-19.

The SSTD System combines the passive detection capability of the Torpedo Warning System that not only finds torpedoes but also classifies and tracks them, with the hard-kill capability of the Countermeasure Anti-Torpedo — an encapsulated miniature torpedo.

The Countermeasure Anti-Torpedo is being developed by the Pennsylvania State University Applied Research Laboratory (PSU-ARL). It is designed to locate, home in on and destroy hostile torpedoes. Over the four-day testing period, Bush engaged seven torpedo-like targets with seven Countermeasure Anti-Torpedoes. Designed to validate the end-to-end of the system, the testing proved successful.

"What is currently aboard Bush is an engineering development model, or EDM, that is a fully-functioning system, but not the final configuration or production model," DelToro explained. "We’re learning from the Bush to improve the system so we can provide the most robust and cost-effective hard-kill anti-torpedo capability possible."

The Navy currently plans to equip all aircraft carriers and other high-value units with the Surface Ship Torpedo Defense system by 2035.

NavSea link

 

[Canadian.Trucker]

Interesting article.  I wonder if some of these advances in defence systems is to help make the carrier group slightly smaller, so the carrier has more personal defence capabilities and therefore requires fewer ships in a defence/escort role?

 

[GAP]

Is this for normal torpedo's or the high speed ones or both...?

 

[a_majoor]

To make this work the escort ships need to carry these as well, in order to project a very large and overlapping series of "bubbles" around the carrier. The same principle is needed for anti missile defense, detect the incoming threat as far away as possible and force a series of multiple engagements to thin out the attackers.

With the advent of high speed torpedoes and supersonic anti ship missiles, carrier defense may have to fall on large aircraft or UCAVs that orbit high overhead (for maximum sensor coverage) which also carry various weapons and countermeasures to provide the outer screen.