F Y15 N AV Y P R O G R A M S

Multi-Static Active Coherent (MAC) System

Executive Summary
• The Navy completed the integration of the Multi-Static
Active Coherent (MAC) Phase I system on P-8A Poseidon
aircraft and conducted FOT&E in accordance with a
DOT&E‑approved test plan from March 2014 through
February 2015.
• P-8A FOT&E results indicate that the MAC Phase 1 system
provides P-8A aircraft with an early wide-area Anti-Submarine
Warfare (ASW) search capability in some operational
environments and in select scenarios, but it does not meet the
MAC Phase I program’s requirements in other environments
or scenarios. The P-8A’s MAC wide-area ASW search
capability is similar to the capability on P-3C aircraft.
• The FOT&E did not fully examine the capability of MAC
across all operational conditions, representative operational • To plan MAC missions, the Navy has updated the
environments, and target types. Active System Performance Estimate Computer Tool
• DOT&E submitted an FOT&E report on the P-8A’s wide‑area (ASPECT)/ Multi-static Planning Acoustics Toolkit previously
 

ASW search capability with the MAC Phase 1 system used to plan IEER system missions.
in December 2015. The report also updated DOT&E’s • The Navy intends to employ MAC on P-3C and P-8A aircraft
assessment of the ASW mission capability provided by the in a limited set of acoustic environments. Future increments
MAC system on the P-3C aircraft. of MAC will be employed on P-8A aircraft and in a wider
• The Navy plans to install MAC system software and display variety of acoustic ocean environments in order to span the
improvements on the P-8A with Increment 2 Engineering operational envelope of threat submarine operations. MAC
Change Proposal (ECP) 2 in FY15 and FY16 and conduct the will be the primary wide-area acoustic search system for the
P-8A aircraft wide-area ASW search assessment in mid-FY16. P-8A.
• MAC is expected to have fewer effects on marine mammals
System and the environment than the legacy IEER system.
• The MAC system is an active sonar system composed of
two types of sonobuoys (source and receiver) and an acoustic Mission
processing and aircraft mission computer software suite. It is The Navy intends for P-3C and P-8A crews equipped with MAC
employed by the Navy’s maritime patrol aircraft (P-3Cs and to support the search, detect, and localization phases of the
P-8As) to search for and locate threat submarines in a variety ASW mission. MAC is particularly focused on large-area active
of ocean conditions. acoustic searches for threat submarines.
• MAC replaces the Navy’s current Improved Extended Echo
Ranging (IEER) system, which employs non-coherent sources Major Contractors
to produce loud sounds that reflect off submarine targets. • Lockheed Martin – Manassas, Virginia
MAC employs new coherent source buoys that enable multiple • Sparton Electronics Florida, Inc. – De Leon Springs, Florida
pings, optimized waveforms, and various ping durations, none • Ultra Electronics, Undersea Sensor Systems Incorporated
of which the legacy IEER system provided. The Navy is (USSI) – Columbia City, Indiana
planning a series of enhancements to the MAC software and • Boeing Defense, Space, and Security – St. Louis, Missouri
improvements to the MAC buoys.

Activity
• The Navy completed integrating the MAC Phase 1 system Multi‑mission Aircraft in October 2013. The Navy conducted
onto the P-8A aircraft and conducted FOT&E of the the operational testing in accordance with a DOT&E-approved
P-8A’s early wide-area search capability with the MAC test plans.
from March 2014 through February 2015. The Navy • DOT&E submitted an FOT&E report on the P-8A’s
completed IOT&E of the MAC Phase 1 system on the P-3C wide-area ASW search capability with the MAC system

MAC 263
 F Y15 N AV Y P R O G R A M S

in December 2015. The report also updates DOT&E’s environmental databases used by ASPECT when modeling
assessment of the ASW mission capability provided by the many threat operating areas, the planning tool performance
MAC system on P-3C aircraft. estimates are highly dependent on the wide-range of potential
• The Navy and DOT&E commenced developing a Test and mission planning input parameters estimated by the mission
Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP), which includes deferred planner. As a result, ASPECT performance estimates can
MAC testing and plans for the MAC Phase 2 improvements. widely vary when compared to test results. The Navy’s
To efficiently utilize test resources, DOT&E required the Oceanographic Office is updating these environmental
test program be consistent with and utilize MAC events databases, focusing first on forward operating areas. Since
programmed in the approved P-8A Increment 2 TEMP. ASPECT does not have a good estimate for the operator
Because future MAC testing is planned to occur on the P-8A, recognition of the submarine target, it overestimates ASW
the Navy intends to integrate the Phase 2 MAC test plan into detection performance.
the P-8A Increment 3 TEMP. • Additional information is detailed in DOT&E’s classified
• The Navy and DOT&E started development of the P-8A FOT&E report on the P-8A with MAC System dated
Increment 2 ECP 2 FOT&E test plan, which allow the Navy December 2015, and the IOT&E report on the MAC System
to evaluate the P-8A’s MAC system software and display on P-3C aircraft dated July 2014.
improvements and complete deferred testing with diesel
electric submarines. Recommendations
• Status of Previous Recommendations. The Navy is making
Assessment progress on the FY13 and FY14 recommendations. The
• DOT&E assessed that the MAC system provides the P-8A status of significant unclassified recommendations remaining
and the P-3C aircraft with a wide-area ASW search capability include:
in some environments and for select target scenarios, but that 1. The Navy Program Office is investigating fleet exercise
MAC falls short of what the fleet identified as the capability data to assess detection performance and to gather data for
needed to protect high-value units. Although testing identified developing future algorithm and software improvements.
P-8A’s higher speed and revised buoy field installation tactics The fleet exercise data include new environments where
reduced the search field buoy installation time, DOT&E the fleet operates in peacetime. The Navy is planning the
assessed MAC detection performance was similar to the outstanding MAC operational testing against different
P-3C’s performance and independent of the aircraft platform. target types. This testing will be in conjunction with P-8A
Testing identified that detection performance strongly relies Increment 2 ECP-2 FOT&E.
on the characteristics of the ocean environment and the 2. The Navy has not completed development of a sustainable
tactics employed by the target to evade detection. Testing to MAC training program or completed the formal updates to
understand the effects different threat types and environments tactics guidelines and documentation.
have on performance will continue through FY19 in 3. The Navy has not developed processes for aircrews to better
conjunction with the P-8A Increment 2 test program. understand the environmental conditions in the search area.
• The P-8A FOT&E and the P-3C IOT&E did not fully examine The Navy developed a complex process for estimating
the capability of MAC across all operational conditions, the environmental conditions in operational test areas to
representative operational environments, and target types. improve ASPECT predictions; however, the process is not
DOT&E agreed to limit testing of the initial phase of MAC timely or usable by typical aircrews. The Navy should
because the Navy planned to install MAC system software and continue to investigate methods for aircrews to measure
display improvements on P-8A during Increment 2 ECP 2 and environmental conditions in the search area and to adjust
conduct additional testing to evaluate the P-8A’s wide-area the MAC search plan appropriately when the conditions
search capability in FY16. change.
• Although the MAC system demonstrated a detection capability 4. The Navy is investigating the MAC system’s capability
against evasive undersea targets, acoustic operators were for longer-range detections based on the environmental
expected to quickly distinguish system submarine detections conditions in the search area.
from a variety of non-submarine clutter detections, some of • FY15 Recommendations. The Navy should implement
which appeared target-like. Complicating this task, completed the recommendations found in DOT&E’s P-8A with
test analysis identified that the MAC system detections the MAC system FOT&E report. DOT&E provided
of target and non-target clutter varies with environmental 14 recommendations to improve the MAC system performance
conditions and likely target types. The data also show and 6 recommendations to improve test realism, minimize
operators are only able to recognize a small fraction of valid test limitations, and improve data collection. Significant
system submarine detections as a possible target and spent unclassified recommendations include:
time assessing and prosecuting false targets. 1. Investigate and develop tactics to improve the operator’s
• The Navy uses ASPECT/Multi-static Planning Acoustics ability to transition system detections to high confidence
Toolkit to develop MAC search plans and to estimate target detection. Consider measures to balance operator
theoretical system performance. In addition to the incomplete

264 MAC
 F Y15 N AV Y P R O G R A M S

workload and update search plans based on the actual 3. Investigate and develop improvements to the ASPECT
conditions experienced in the search area. planning system and the supporting databases.
2. Investigate the system’s capability for longer-range
detections based on the environmental conditions in the
search area.

MAC 265
 F Y15 N AV Y P R O G R A M S

266