- Product   Development
- Product   Transition
- Integration &   Assessment
- Forward   Deployment

RTI Product Transition: Integration and Assessment

Advanced Acoustic Concepts (AAC) is the prime integrator and technology lead for the Improved Performance Sonar (IPS) technology insertion process, providing the Navy a structured, repeatable and verifiable means of inserting and evaluating warfighting improvements using dedicated sea test platforms. In IPS Technology Insertion, AAC provides the Navy rapid fleet deployment of new undersea warfare sensor and processing capabilities, using a spiral build-test-build development model known as the Open Architecture Enterprise Process (OAEP). The OAEP model incorporates the “best of breed”
capabilities from the submarine, surface, surveillance, air ASW and mine warfare communities, providing the Navy with innovative sensors and enhanced processing capabilities that are:
  • Portable
  • Interoperable
  • Scalable
  • Open Architecture Solutions
For the Improved Performance Sonar (IPS) project, AAC assembled a team of 28 industry, Navy lab and academic partners to deliver a transformational award winning Undersea Warfare (USW) combat system. Leveraging the existing sonar hardware and networks, Team IPS developed and installed a technology, functionality, and architecture upgrade based on a common open architecture compliant operation environment.

The IPS system, which is installed on USS John S McCain (DDG 56) and USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), allows for regularly scheduled inserts of significant USW functional enhancements. IPS has exponentially enhanced the combat system processing power over that of the incumbent legacy systems. The “build-test-build” OAEP process facilitated the improvements in record time and at one-fourth the cost of the Military Specifications based system. Since it was first installed, the IPS system has undergone three semiannual upgrades as part of the spiral development process used for improving sonar system performance.

  • Spiral Demonstration Builds:
    • Key to the success of the IPS technology insertion process is the performance of meaningful and progressive product tests and evaluations. These tests are conducted at sea, in a realistic operational environment with subject matter experts, technical design agents and fleet representatives participating. Demonstration builds involve the customer in every stage of the product development cycle – from concept through installation and follow-on lifetime support.


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    The six step Open Architecture Enterprise Transition Process that AAC utilizes for development, demonstration, integration and rapid fielding of new technologies is focused on customer satisfaction. AAC aligns the stakeholders and engages the customer in every step of the spiral development process - from initial modeling and requirements through PRP/APB development, mission package integration, demonstration and evaluation, qualification, platform integration, fielding and in-service support. ~ Bob Olsen, Vice President of Program Management - AAC