The Navy has successfully tested software that detects submarine periscopes peeking above the waves, even when the seas are choppy.
The Automatic Radar Periscope Detection and Discrimination (ARPDD) system can distinguish a periscope from radar clutter on the ocean, according to a Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announcement. "This system represents our first successful application of automatic target recognition on an aircraft," said ARPDD team lead Dave Breitigam.
The software passed an operational test on an AN/APS-153 multimode radar mounted on a MH-60R Seahawk. "Researchers developed the complex algorithms that are the basis of ARPDD's capability," NAVAIR said. "The mathematical equations are bundled into computer software programs designed to accurately detect submarine periscopes and distinguish them from other objects or disturbances on the water's surface. An operator can then make a final periscope confirmation based on the data and take appropriate action."
ARPDD achieved initial operational capability in 2013. The latest test is a prelude to full-scale production.
