1. This Brief is UNCLASIFIED
Developments in Mining
MINWARA Spring Conference, May 2011
In this photo: qualifying Quickstrike Mk 62 and Mk 63 on F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, March 2011
GOOD MORNING … THANK YOU TO THE MINE WARFARE ASSOCIATION FOR THE INVITATION TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY… (PICTURE)
EXTENDING MY MILITARY CAREER INTO WORK HERE AT NSWC PCD HAS ALLOWED ME TO GAIN SOME PERSPECTIVE ON THE CYCLIC AND OFTEN FRUSTRATING REALITY OF OUR MINING PROGRAM OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS (WELL ILLUSTRATED BY THE NEXT SLIDE)
CDR Ron Swart, USN Ret
Mining Systems
NSWC-PCD A10S
PMS-495
This Brief is UNCLASIFIED

3. Overview A Vision Current Picture Current Efforts The Road Ahead
THIS MORNING, I WILL PROVIDE A HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY, WHERE WE WANT TO GO AND WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON. GEN HANIFEN HAS OUTLINED A STRATIGIC VISION FOR FUTURE CAPABILITIES THAT MUST START WITH DOING THE MOST WE CAN WITH THE SYSTEMS WE HAVE TODAY. OUR CONSTRAINED BUDGET IS DRIVING US TO EXAMINE THE CHALLENGES WE FACE IN NEW WAYS. AFTER YEARS OF LOW FUNDING AND EVEN LOWER INTEREST, MINES AND MINING HAVE GAINED RENEWED INTEREST AS A WARFARE CAPABILITY. AND, THERE IS STRONG INTEREST IN ADVANCING TECHNOLOGIES THAT OVERCOME TRADITIONAL DRAWBACKS AND LIMITATIONS.

4. Expendable Target Detection Devices
Vision for A2/AD - AUWS
Long-range Weapons
Unmanned Vehicles
© 2010 Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments
IT IS IMPORTANT TO BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND. WHILE THE BASIC MISSION OF NAVAL MINING REMAINS AT THE CORE (SUCH AS ANTI-ACCESS, AREA DENIAL, BLOCKAID, FORCE MULTIPLICATION), THE MATURATION OF ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES IN REMOTE COMMAND AND CONTROL, CLANDESTINE PLACEMENT AND EXTRACTION, TARGET DISCRIMINATION, WIDE AREA WEAPON COVERAGE… EXPAND THE BASIC MINING MISSION BEYOND TRADITIONAL APPLICATIONS AND WE START TO BUMP INTO TRADITIONAL ASW AND SUW SWIMLANES. THIS HAS CREATED SOME TENSION, BUT IS STARTING TO GAIN RECOGNITION FOR THE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE THAT THE MINING BRINGS TO THE FIGHT. THIS DIALOG IS BEGINNING TO EXAMINE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO USE MINES IN SUPPORT OF ASW AND SUW ROLES, TO EXPAND AND EXTEND OUR REACH INTO CONTESTED LITTORAL REGIONS WHERE OUR PLATFORM-BASED OPERATIONS ARE RISKY AND DIFFICULT. OUR FUTURE LOOKS TO ADVANCES IN MOBILITY, DISTRIBUTED SENSORS AND COMMUNICATION PATHS TO CREATE THE REQUIRED EFFECTS. WE SEE AN ADVANCED UNDERSEA WEAPON SYSTEM AS AN “ON-DEMAND MARITIME SENSOR AND WEAPON BARRIER” WITH THE FLEXIBILITY TO PROVIDE STRATIGIC, OPERATIONAL AND EVEN TACTICAL CONVENTIONAL DETERRENCE.
Expendable Target Detection Devices
Encapsulated Weapons
“Advanced, smart mobile mines … appears particularly attractive, given … the difficulty and time-consuming nature of countermine operations” …ASB Concept

5. AUWS in All Operational Phases
Determine:
Mission Objectives
Environment
Delivery Platform
UV Payload Configuration
Clandestinely Position Weapons (unarmed)
Option to disclose capability (command detonation)
Evaluate & Re- Seed as needed
Phase 0
Shape
Phase 1
Deter
Phase 2
Seize
Phase 3
Dominate
Phase 4 Stabilize
Plan
WE ENVISION A SCALABLE SYSTEM THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE ACROSS ALL PHASES FROM AN ALERT PEACE TO HOSTILITIES WITH THE ABILITY TO EXTRACT AT ANY TIME UPON COMMAND
Clandestinely Deliver Expendable Sensors
Collect Target Data
Report Contacts
Remotely Arm the Weapons
Enable Autonomous Engagements
Report Weapons Status and Battle Damage
Extract Un- Expended Weapons
Verify Area is Clear

6. Value of AUWS Traditional Mining Transformational AUWS 6
(strategic, autonomous)
Transformational AUWS
(tactical, controlled)
Quickstrike
SLMM (through FY12)
LD-UUV w/ CRAWs
UAV, USV, UUV, UGV
SHALLOW
INTERMEDIATE
DEEP
SHALLOW
INTERMEDIATE
DEEP
YOU MAY REMEMBER THIS SLIDE FROM GEN HANIFEN’S BRIEF TUESDAY… HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW AUWS WILL DIFFER FROM OUR CURRENT MINE STOCKPILE BY OVERCOMING CHALLENGES IN DELIVERY, MOBILITY, COMMAND, CONTROL & COMMUNICATIONS, THAT OFFER OPERATIONAL AND TACTICAL FLEXIBILITY. CURRENT MINES REQUIRE YOU TO MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS UP FRONT AND THEN YOU LIVE WITH THEM AND HOPE YOU GUESSED RIGHT. COMMUNICATIONS ALLOW YOU OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE DETERMINATIONS AT VARIOUS TIMES ALONG THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE BARRIER OR FIELD.
Distributed Sensors
400 Traditional Mines
1 Transformational Mine
DECIDE
Sterilize/
Destruct
Decide
Deliver
Arm / Engage
Clear
Destruct/
DisArm
Decide
Deliver
Arm
Engage
Extract
Days
Days - Months
Months
Days
Hours
Minutes+
Minutes+
Minutes+
Hours 6 6

7. Autonomy vs. Control Remotely Controlled Autonomous
Operator to tactically decide Level of Autonomy based on desired utility
Probability of Discriminating Target
Latency
Comms Link
Human in Loop
Mission Changes
Control
Auto
Tactical Control
Probability of Defeating Target
ONCE, SET, MINES HAVE BEEN OPERATING ATONOMY FOR THE MOST PART SINCE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR… MUCH TO THE DISCOMFORT OF THE MILITARY AND CIVILIANS ALIKE. AS TECHNOLOGY HAS IMPROVED, MINES HAVE BECOME MUCH BETTER AT AUTONOMOUS DETECTION AND ENGAGEMENT. THIS ALLOWS THE MINEFIELD TO BE VERY TIMELY AND RESPONSIVE TO TRANSITORS, BUT SOMETIMES YOU NEED POSITIVE CONTROL. WHILE MAN-IN-THE-LOOP OFTEN INTRODUCES RESPONSE LATENCY, POSITIVE CONTROL HAS MANY BENEFITS, ESPECIALLY WHERE YOU HAVE AN EVOLVING SITUATION. WE FEEL THAT ADVANCED SYSTEMS NEED TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE IN BOTH MODES.
Autonomous
Autonomy
Responsive
Detect-to-engage
Autonomy improves Performance; Control improves Utility
DISTRO F: For Official Use Only

8. QUICKSTRIKE “Family” of Mines - Today -
Air-laid – bottom influence
MK 62
2016
MK 63
2016
MK 65
OUR CURRENT STOCKPILE CONSISTS OF THE QUICKSTRIKE FAMILY OF MINES… AIR LAID BOTTOM MINE, (EXPLODE-IN-PLACE) WITH MULTIPLE SENSING INFLUENCES . DELIVERY COULD BE DIFFICULT IN TERMS OF RISK TO THE PLATFORM AND SORTIE REQUIREMENTS.
2009

9. Submarine Launched Mobile Mine Mk 67
Deployed 1985
Clandestine capable
Sub laid - SSN 688 Class (20)
Bottom Mine
Influence: Magnetic/Seismic
Based on MK 37 Torpedo
developmental testing 1955
Complex mechanism/outdated technology
Warhead 515 Lb (PBXN-103)
DEMIL Start FY10 end FY12
OUR ONLY CLANDESTINE STAND-OFF MINE WILL EXIT SERVICE BEFORE THE END OF WHILE WE HAVE OFFERED SEVERAL NEAR-TERM UPGRADES THAT COULD PROVIDE A CONTINGENCY CAPABILITY UNTIL A LONG-TERM REPLACEMENT IS FIELDED, NONE HAVE BEEN FUNDED. SO, WHAT’S COOKING?

10. QS MINE MK 65 MOD 0 UTB CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
NEAR TERM ASW STRIKE CONTINGENCY NOW IN DEVELOPMENT

11. Operational View - RC2 Mobile Gateway
R&I pattern
REMOTE CONTROL OF OUR MINES USING A UUV AS THE MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS PATH – JUNE 2011 FLEX DEMO

12. Air Standoff Options Aerial Stand-off Range Extension
Several Commercial Wing Kits
Increased Glide Ratio
Multiple Systems in Development
IN THE NEAR TERM WE CAN LESSEN THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH AERIAL DELIVERY WITH STAND-OFF SYSTEMS THAT KEEP OUR AIRCRAFT OUT OF THE LETHAL FIRE ENVELOPE… SEVERAL INDUSTRY OPTIONS ARE NEARING MATURITY

13. LDUUV Options
Use existing systems to provide a rapid response, demonstration test bed for LDUUV development
What is it? Long Duration Large Diameter Littoral UUV is adaptation of existing MK 8 Mod 1 SDV design.
Why L2D2 ? Realistically doable, reasonable cost, needed, contingency capability for Naval and Joint Forces. 1 year from design to in-water demo; significant potential for mission capability
SDV Mk8 Mod1:
Fielded, Supported, & Cost Effective
Reliable
Ample Room for Payloads
Provides configurable test bed for payload concept experimentation and integration
THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO ADAPT THE EXISTING MK 8 MOD 1 TO A TEST BED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF MISSION PACKAGES AND COMPONENTS THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR FUTURE LARGE DIAMETER UNMANNED UNDERSEA SYSTEMS, INCLUDING AUWS CONCEPTS LIKE DISTRIBUTED SENSOR AND WEAPON LOADS

14. LD-UUV AUWS Payload Options
Sensor
Module
FY10 Concept
REMUS
“data mule”
Stationary Mine
HERE ARE SEVERAL AUWS MISSION PACKAGES BEING CONSIDERED. UNTIL THE REQUIRED ENERGY-DENSITY AND DURATION IS AVAILABLE, A DIESEL ENGINE COULD PROVIDE THE PROPULSION OVER LONG DISTANCES UNTIL A STEALTHY ACOUSTIC SIGNATURE BECOMES NECESSARY.
Mobile Mine
Sensor
Stationary Mine
ArcherFish
Neutralizer

15. Weapon Options MK 48 21” Dia SLMM 19” Dia Mk 54 12” Dia REMUS 7” Dia
THE WEAPON LOAD WITH EXCELLENT MILITARY UTILITY IS ONE WITH AN EXTENDED STAND-OFF RANGE = TORPEDO OR OTHER MOBILE WARHEAD CONCEPTS. WIDE AREA COVERAGE DECREASES THE NUMBERS OF ENGAGEMENT SYSTEMS THAT NEED TO BE EMPLACED THEREBY MINIMIZING THE IMPACT FOR DELIVERY PLATFORM CAPACITY. FOR EXAMPLE, A 4-PACK OF THE 6” COMPACT RAPID ATTACK TORPEDO COULD BE FIRED IN VOLLEY OR ONE-AT A TIME TO SUSTAIN THE STRENGTH OF THE BARRIER.
REMUS
7” Dia
CRAW
6” Dia
ArcherFish
4” Dia

16. Sensor Options ONR PLUS INP SOF
SENSOR DEVELOPMENT AND REFINEMENT OF EVERY TYPE IS GOING ON AT EVERY WARFARE CENTER. THESE ARE ONLY A VERY FEW EXAMPLES. STATIONARY MINES CLOSELY MATCH THEIR SENSORS TO THE EXPLOSIVE EFFECTS OF THE MINE, BUT WIDE-AREA ENGAGEMENT WEAPONS CAN LEVERAGE A WIDE VARIETY DISTRIBUTED SENSORS, INCLUDING, PERHAPS THOSE PLACED IN PRE-HOSTILITY PHASES.
SOF

17. Communications Gateway Options
COMMAND AND CONTROL OF OUR MINEFIELDS AND FUTURE ADVANCED SENSORS AND WEAPONS IS A KEY MILITARY AND POLITICAL ATTRIBUTE. LIKE SENSORS, THERE IS A LOT OF WORK GOING ON IN THIS AREA. WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH INDUSTRY AND SPAWAR ON DEMONSTRATING ACOUSTIC COMMS LINKS THAT ARE PERSISTANT AND RELIABLE.

18. Current Studies and Analysis
GAMET Modeling Tool– NSWC PCD
N00X – Asymmetric ASW Study (Deep Water Mining)
OPNAV N87
Coastal Attack call for Proposals
Asymmetric Payload call for concepts
JCTD - OSD/SPECWAR: Maritime Predator
ONR - FY-14 T&E Requirements
Mine Analysis of Alternatives - OPNAV
Mining Deep Dive - DoD RDA Task Force
Everybody’s talking
4/15/2017

19. Summary Lets extend our dominance into their littoral OPAREA
Integrate the mine mission into the ASW and SUW construct for a true USW capability at the right place, and the right time
Let’s keep them up at night worrying about our mines.
Let me leave you with these thoughts…