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Optronic/Photonic submarine masts don’t need huge periscope well columns extending deep into the submarine, a fact that allows much greater flexibility in submarine design. Instead, these masts use high-resolution cameras mounted in the submarine’s sensor head. The images provided are then displayed on console screens in the submarine’s operations center via an electronic link, allowing multiple sailors to see the results at once. With periscopes, smaller is also better since it reduces obvious signs of your presence on the surface – but how to get that without sacrificing needed quality?
Lockheed Martin Corporation Maritime Systems & Sensors in Syracuse, NY recently received an $8.7 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract and option 2-4, for development of the Low Profile Mast sensor system. The Low Profile Mast program “seeks to develop an electro-optic periscope with a smaller visual cross section for use in tactical situations.” Work will be performed Syracuse, N.Y (50%); Northampton, MA (40%); and Newington, VA (10%), and is expected to be completed by December 2008. The contract was competitively procured and advertised via the Internet, with 2 proposals received by the US Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport Division in Newport, RI (N66604-07-C-0420). See also Lockheed Martin’s Jan, 2007 release.