Joint Seabed Warfare

NPS NRP Project PosterSeabed warfare is now recognized as an important dimension to fighting in a joint theater-level environment. Current processes for assessing and assigning targets in a rapid (such as target selection, third-party targeting, and post-strike bomb hit assessment) are well understood in aviation warfare in a joint environment. This planning and information flow have potential applicability to the undersea environment. Joint commanders routinely require targeting-quality information (whether imagery or, in the case of seabed warfare, high-resolution acoustic) and associated metadata for decision making. Adapting current practices (e.g., TCPED) and mechanisms and procedures for providing timely and accurate servicing with joint fires are immature. This research project will investigate and analyze current practices and requirements that include the new technical capabilities that enable seabed warfare, and the distribution of information through planning practices. Products of research will allow the JTF commander to more effectively employ joint fires against seabed targets, and will aid in facilitating the flow of critical targeting information to non-naval strike assets. The research will first focus on current procedures for conducting joint seabed warfare, specifically on data flows, and compare with the joint fires processes in use at present. In current practice, joint fires folders are created. How will joint seabed warfare be included in joint targeting folders? Finally, what are the sensitivities of these processes to communications degraded environments? Products will include highly developed systems view of current and future information distribution into processes used in joint targeting with recommendations for improvements to information flows, data needs and decision processes in joint fires to create intended effects in the seabed environment.Naval Undersea Warfighting Development Center (UWDC)U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF)This research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.