July 11, 2017
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) hosted a Surface Electro-Optics/Infrared (EO/IR) Standards Profile Review in collaboration with Naval Sea Systems Command’s (NAVSEA) Surface EO/IR Technical Warrant Holder from 9-10 May. The event was a follow-up to the NAVSEA EO/IR Modular Open Systems Approach/Architecture (MOSA) Technical Exchange Meeting, which was hosted by NSWC Crane in June 2016 and established the technical direction for the standards review.
NSWC Crane is considered a national expert in EO/IR systems. The intended purpose of a Standards Profile is to establish and apply standards across all Department of Defense (DoD) agencies, and to assure standards compliance.
“With NSWC Crane’s knowledge of systems and critical technology, as well as familiarity with the market, our team was fully capable of assisting the technical warrant holder with the Standards Profile Review,” said Kerry Libbert, NSWC Crane’s Maritime Electro-Optic Systems Branch Manager.
EO/IR sensors are critical to the U.S. Navy by supplying visual information that enhances battlespace awareness. Historically, EO/IR systems have been a component of a weapon system for the sole purpose of tracking and engaging targets, but they have also become useful tools for navigation and situational awareness. Motion imagery provided by EO/IR sensors can allow an operator to assess approaching threats during the day, at night, or during adverse weather conditions, while remaining passive. The operator can view human activity on deck, determine vessel type and weapons posture, and assess the intent of approaching vessels.
“While gun and missile system fire control support have been the major drivers of acquisition funding for EO/IR systems, the need for passive detection over wider fields of view and longer ranges is growing,” Libbert said. “Each sensor has a unique interface – which is often proprietary – and when a sensor fails, the only recourse is to replace it with an identical model. The result is significant investment in provisioning spares, and reliance on original equipment manufacturers for repairs and upgrades.”
NSWC Crane’s Electro-Optic Technology Division manages EO/IR systems for customers across all services and domains, supporting them over the entire life cycle.
The May meeting marked the beginning of the intermediate review period for the proposed Surface EO/IR Standards Profile documented in the draft Design Practices and Criteria (DPC) Manual NAVSEA T9070-XX-DPC-010/457-1. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce, brief-out, review, and take questions and comments on the drafted document.
The NSWC Crane-hosted review included approximately 75 on-site attendees as well as 25 web conference participants from government and industry. Panel and advisory members included representatives from COMNAVSURFLANT, PEO IWS 2, PEO IWS 3, PMS 408, and OPNAV N96. The standards profile is currently under review by the participants as well as a number of additional stakeholders from government, industry, and University Affiliated Research Center (UARC)/Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) organizations.
The document is scheduled for release in FY2018 subject to concurrence by Standards Review Board, key stakeholders, and NAVSEA 05 approval. Once approved, the standards profile will be referenced in requirements documentation, system specifications, and is intended to be proposed as a reference in a future Naval Combatant Design Specification (NCDS) update. The document is expected to be updated on an estimated two year cycle.
NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of NAVSEA. The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi-spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing the capability of today’s warfighter.