Description
Organization: NAVSEA, PEO (USW)
Team Name: Multi-Sensor Torpedo Recognition and Alertment Processor (MSTRAP) Development Team
Related Acquisition Topic(s): Commercial and Non Developmental Items (CANDI), Cycle Time Reduction (CTR), Financial Management, Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD), Open Systems, Partnering
Description: Multi-Sensor Torpedo Recognition and Alertment processor (MSTRAP) and Launched Expendable Acoustic Device (LEAD) Officials of the Department of the Navy, Westinghouse Electric Corp., Frequency Engineering Laboratories and Loral Hycor rolled out two new torpedo defense systems on June 7 for the U.S. Navy. These systems use commercial-off-the-shelf components and Non-Developmental Items that helped cut development time by two thirds, while reducing overall costs of the system a factor of four.
In ceremonies at Westinghouse's manufacturing integration and test site in Sykesville, MD., the first Multi-Sensor Torpedo Recognition and Alertment processor (MSTRAP) and Launched Expendable Acoustic Device (LEAD) were unveiled. Dignitaries included Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), both members of the House National Security Committee, Dan Porter (the DoN Acquisition Reform Executive), Tim Douglass (PEO(USW)), and RADM Alexander Krekich (Director Surface Warfare Plans, Programs & Requirements).
MSTRAP provides the Navy's surface ships with a highly capable torpedo alertment system to defend against torpedo attack. The MSTRAP system design represents a major departure from the traditional "MIL-SPEC" approach. The design is based in large part on the use of commercial-off-the-shelf electronics and existing cabinetry. MSTRAP also features an "open architecture" approach to surface ship combat design which translates into reduced costs and shorter timeframes to incorporate future combat system upgrades.
The LEAD defensive subsystem integrates existing submarine countermeasures, the US-ADC MK2 and UK-2066, with proven chaff and infra-red launching systems. The LEAD design is totally based on existing systems and is truly a Non-Developmental Item. The approach that was taken with LEAD makes it instantly compatible and launchable from ever surface ship in the U.S. Navy, the Royal Navy, and virtually all allied navies.
Keynote speaker, the Honorable Duncan Hunter, stressed the importance of MSTRAP and LEAD calling them "assets for American Sea Power .... The focus on warfare is now in Littoral/Brown Water areas. Those Littoral regions will force close contact with enemy torpedoes. We need the war fighting capability manifested in MSTRAP and LEAD ... [they] are leading the way in New Acquisition."
Congressman Hunter concluded by congratulating the Industry and Navy teams. He stated the MSTRAP and LEAD teams were successful because they:
Involved the user, which is key and different from the norm;
Used off-the-shelf technology, allowing the commercial market to drive technology;
Saved 75 percent of taxpayer dollars which would otherwise have been spent; and
Used open architecture which is a must for enabling upgrades.
Dan Porter summarized, "This roll-out ceremony represents a seminal event, benchmarking our new way of doing business. What you are seeing here today is the future. The Navy is developing systems that are better, cheaper, and provided earlier because we are giving Program Offices like Surface Ship Torpedo Defense the freedom to do it smarter."
