Acoustic Rapid COTS Insertion Case Study

Abstract

In the mid-1990s, the submarine community recognized the impending loss of US technical superiority in submarine acoustics when foreign submarines began to exhibit major reduction in noise signature. This resulted in a critical need to improve acoustic sensing systems to better recognize foreign submarines. Although new capability was critically needed, required resources were not available to support the developmental effort. Critical need and the absence of sufficient funding constituted a crisis demanding a revolutionary approach to achieve necessary technological improvement. The approach came to be called A-RCI Acoustic Rapid COTS Insertion, which might be characterized in the following manner. A-RCI used modular open-system architecture (MOSA). Hardware and software would progress on different paths and timelines. Key interfaces, standards, and protocols would be rigorously controlled as necessary to insure that different modules would work together. Commercial Off-the-shelf (COTS) purchases would be encouraged, and software reuse would be accomplished where feasible. Innovative solutions would be sought from a deliberately broadened array of participants, including defense contractors, Government labs, academia, and small business. Technical performance would be demonstrated by testing against known real-world performance standards. Technical decisions would be validated by peer review.