Navy Attack Submarines Get New Weapons Controls

Sensors, sonar, weapons control, quieting technologies, undersea drones and
communications systems provide the vital arenas through which the US Navy will
seek to sustain and build upon its advantage beneath the surface of the
ocean.

With this in mind, the Navy’s Virginia-Class Attack Submarines are being upgraded
with a new Tactical Control System (TCS) technology to provide weapons control,
improved network subsystems, and faster component modernization, a Pentagon
announcement said.

The idea with fast evolving TCS and other undersea controls and networking
technologies is to engineer a circumstance wherein U.S. submarines can operate
undetected in or near enemy waters or coastline, conduct reconnaissance or
attack missions and sense any movement or enemy activities at farther ranges
than adversaries can.

Along these lines, Navy leaders say the service is making progress developing new
acoustics, sensors and quieting technologies to ensure the U.S. retains its
technological edge in the undersea domain – as countries like China and Russia
continue rapid military modernization and construction of new submarines.

A key element of improving TCS for the submarines includes ongoing Navy efforts to
expedite integration of emerging commercial hardware and software.

The current pace of technological changes, including miniaturized components,
faster processing speed, new undersea communications possibilities and
developing quieting technologies requires submarine operators to quickly
integrate the newest innovations as they emerge.

TCS integrates sensor inputs to provide a common operational picture and enhance
information assurance for attack and guided missile submarines, according to
statements from General Dynamics Mission Systems.

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