The US Navy’s Communications at Speed and Depth (CSD) programme led by Lockheed Martin has successfully completed the preliminary design review.
CSD provides submarines operating below periscope depth and at tactical speeds with the ability to communicate with surface ships and land-based assets via satellite networks.
Under the US Navy’s CSD programme, the Lockheed team is developing three types of expendable communications buoys which include two submarine-launched tethered buoys that provide real-time data transfer via iridium and UHF satellites.
The third is an untethered, acoustic-to-radio frequency gateway buoy which can be launched from a submarine or maritime patrol aircraft to enable two-way communication using through-water acoustic communications and iridium satellites.
Lockheed Martin-led industry team, which includes Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems and ERAPSCO, will now move into the critical design review phase.
