[PUBLIC]

AUV technology has advanced considerably, opening up new avenues for underwater warfare. To leverage this, the PSA will develop a series of AUVs, designed to replace the current series of torpedos in service, while opening up new capabilities.

Common Conventional Propulsion Platform

The Common Conventional Propulsion Platform is a shared, integrated set of components that provides a basis for the PSA's UUV and AUV development programs. It combines the powerplant, which can either be a straight Stirling engine or a dual-mode stirling engine that is able to convert itself into internal combustion on demand, with the communications system and the control system. On top of this basis, the PSA will develop the following AUVs:

Littoral Battlespace Sensor

The Littoral Battlespace Sensor is an integrated package, built on top of the frame of a heavyweight torpedo. It offers long range submarine communications in combination with an extensive sensor suite designed for use in the littorals, including a periscope, a smaller swim-ahead AUV with its own sonar, a hull conformal multifrequency ultra-wideband sonar, and a full mast mounted radar and ESM suite. It uses the dual-mode stirling engine system, with a maximum range of 4,000 nautical miles from the launch vessel, with a sprint speed of 35 knots (maximum endurance: 5 miles) or cruise speed at 5 knots while producing noise designed to be indistinguisable from the actively-detected background. It is designed for launch from the PSA's submarines, and can connect to them with a 1,000 mile long ultra-fine fiber optic cable, which it can automatically splice into other, specially designed and laid fiber optics. Alternatively, the LBS can hook into specially laid fiber optics and spool from there, allowing it to use its full range in specially prepared locations, or it can use the periscope's integrated space communication laser system to connect to orbiting satellites.

The LBS is expected to cost $6.9 million, and can be recovered.

Bluewater Battlespace Sensor

Building off of the LBS's basic concept, the Bluewater Battlespace Sensor is an integrated, networked, long range acoustic and electronic detection platform. Combining the same multifunction periscope mast used on the LBS with the CCPP, the BBS replaces the sub-AUV with a higher performance integrated broadband sonar system, and has the ability to deploy a towed array sonar of its own.

Like the LBS, the BBS has the ability to fit into any standard heavyweight torpedo tube, and can both lay its own fiber optic communications cable, operate autonomously, or reach a predesignated fiber optic termination/splice point and splice into a pre-laid fiber optic cable for forward use.

Mark 52 Lightweight Multipurpose Submarine Munition

The Mk46 torpedo is still the backbone of the PSA's antisubmarine warfare efforts, which is a situation that is not optimal. The Mark 52 is designed to replace it, building off of the CCPP to provide a vastly superior anti submarine munition.

The Mark 52 torpedo is the same size and shape as the Mark 46. However, it replaces the Mark 46's engine with the dual-mode stirling of the CCPP, with a maximum range of up to 500 miles at 5 knots, or a sprint speed of 40 knots for 6 miles. In combination with this, the Mark 52 offers a new broadband sonar, using a synthetic reconstruction approach over the entirety of its front third, allowing it to receive and locate a vast range of frequencies in real time.

Uniquely, the Mark 52 provides networking capability. Using either hydrophones, deployable bouies, or simple surfacing, depending on the role, the Mark 52 can be used as a surveillance system in addition to as a torpedo, and, very much unlike the Mark 46, can be recovered by surface vessels or helicopters to use another day. It can also be used in a minehunting role, but its main "weapon" feature is a 20kg high explosive shaped charge warhead, that is designed to penetrate submarine pressure hulls. The Mark 52 is expected to cost $1.1 million per reusable torpedo (at least, if it doesn't blow itself up).

[secret] Alternately, the Mark 52 can be fitted with a 10kt thermonuclear warhead.

Mark 54 Heavyweight Multipurpose Submarine Munition

Like the Mark 46, the Mark 48 is similarly out of date, even with the upgrades that have been applied to it. The PSAN plans to replace it with the Mark 54 HMSM, built off much the same principles as the LBS, but sacrificing the swim-away sonar ROV for a 2,000kg integral high explosive warhead. It offers reduced range in comparison to the LBS - 2,000nmi - but has a sprint speed of 60 knots for 10 miles, and retains the same periscope and fiber optic capabilities as does the LBS, maximizing long range usability and performance.

Each Mark 54 costs $5.5 million, and can be recovered by the launching submarine.

[secret] Like the Mark 52, the Mark 54 can be fitted with a 1MT thermonuclear warhead.

SSQ-150 Multistatic Self-propelled Sonobouy

The SSQ-150 takes the SSQ-125's innovations, such as the ability to use ambient noise sources as sonar sources in addition to other active sonobouies, and couples it with the ability to move. Using the smallest CCPP, the SSQ-150 fits into a standard sonobouy tube, but has a range of up to 10 miles and the ability to be recovered and reused. Deploying a floater to the surface, the SSQ-150 provides the ability to network with Mark 52 torpedos, LBS, and other ASW assets and provide real time wide-spectrum active or passive sonar coverage of a given area for up to 2 weeks. Each MSPS costs $1,900.

[SECRET]

Mark 53 Long Range Nuclear Attack System

Explaining the suspicious gap between the Mark 52 and the Mark 54, the Mark 53 is a nuclear powered strategic weapon system, designed to be a strategic strike weapon. The Mark 53 combines a space-derived nuclear powerplant, offering a 20kt top speed with extreme acoustic stealth, including a background-noise duplication system, with a 10MT nuclear warhead, and can self-deliver to locations at unlimited range, while loitering for up to 2 years on station. Sharing the Mark 54 and LBS's communications systems, the Mark 53 offers an enduring nuclear strike option. Each Mk53 can be recovered, and costs $14.1 million.

Overall, the programs are expected to cost $9 billion to develop, and take 4 years (for non-LRNAS) and 5 years for LRNAS. The PSAN plans to replace all of its Mk46 and Mk48 torpedos with Mk52 and Mk54 torpedos 1-to-1.

[SECRET] The PSAN also plans to acquire 500 Mk53 LRNAS, when ready.