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Pennsylvania State University at University Park, PA won a $27.7 million cost-plus-fixed-fee task order for the Persistent Littoral Undersea Surveillance Network (PLUSNET) against Basic Ordering Agreement N00014-05-G-0106. The PLUSNET system concept is a semi-autonomous controlled network of fixed bottom and mobile sensors that communicate with each other and can make basic decisions independently as they try to track ships and even the quiet, diesel electric submarines operating in shallow water environments typical of the Western Pacific.
DID has covered the recent changes in American anti-submarine doctrine and priorities, and this contract represents concrete action along those lines.
Work will be performed in University Park, PA, and is expected to be complete in May 2008. The contract was competitively procured under an Office of Naval Research Broad Agency Announcement, with more than two offers received. The Office of Naval Research in Arlington, VA issued the contract (Task Order 0008).
DefenseTech.org has more coverage of PLUSNET and related projects.
Additional Readings & Sources
* DefenseTech,org (May 10, 2005) – Navy Wants Underwater Spycam Net
* John Walrod, Planning Systems Inc., Presentation to Oct. 30-31 Network Centric Warfare 2000 Conference in Falls Church, VA – Sensor Networks for Network-Centric Warfare [PDF File]
* U.S. Navy Public Affairs Library – The Shape of Things to Come? Top NASA Scientist Discusses the Future of Undersea Warfare
