ASW fusion on a PC

Abstract

LosCon, the software program developed for the author's thesis and tested at sea, is designed to help the ASW commander regain tactical control in a loss of submarine contact situation. Persistent detection and cueing in the battlespace depend on utilizing contact reports from a network of combatant platform and offboard sensors. LosCon, an extended Kalman filter-based program modeled after MTST (Maneuvering Target Statistical Tracker), can integrate the sensor network very efficiently. Kalman filtering is a method of recursively updating the position of an evading target and accuracy of that position using imperfect measurements. Lines of bearing to the contact with associated standard deviation bearing errors and positions with their standard deviation range errors are the measurements LosCon uses to generate an ellipse of the submarine's likely position or AOU (Area Of Uncertainty). LosCon will also generate an expanded AOU for any future time, allowing commanders to correctly estimate the size of the search area. The effectiveness of the sea shield concept depends on the ability of organic forces to deny the enemy tactical control of the battlespace area. Incorporating the information generated by LosCon would assist ASW commanders in maintaining undersea superiority.