WASHINGTON, June 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy's Surface Ship Torpedo Defense System has completed its first carrier-borne end-to-end sea trials, the Navy announced.
The trials were conducted Thursday by the carrier USS George H.W. Bush.
"These tests are a culmination of a very focused effort by the Navy including the program office, Bush's crew, Norfolk Naval Shipyard and our academic and industrial partners," said Capt. Moises DelToro, the Navy's Undersea Defensive Warfare Systems program manager. "With all seven of our shots doing what they are designed and built to do, it validates our work and significantly enhances our current capabilities."
The Surface Ship Torpedo Defense uses the Torpedo Warning System to track and classify torpedo threats and hard-kill capability of the Countermeasure Anti-Torpedo, which is basically an encapsulated miniature torpedo.
Pennsylvania State University Applied Research Laboratory is developing the Countermeasure Anti-Torpedo. During four days of tests seven torpedo-like targets were successfully engaged by Countermeasure Anti-Torpedoes, The Navy said.
"It is gratifying to have these tests go so well," said Rear Adm. David Johnson, program executive officer, Submarines, whose portfolio includes the Undersea Defensive Warfare Systems Program Office. "The engineering involved to detect a hostile torpedo, process its direction, speed [and] depth, and then engage it with a carrier-launched Countermeasure Anti-Torpedo is impressive. I am confident that the fleet will be pleased with the results."
The Navy plans to eventually deploy Surface Ship Torpedo Defense system to all aircraft carriers.
