The sensors are for the Transformational Reliable Acoustic Path Systems (TRAPS), a fixed passive sonar node that provides large-area coverage by exploiting advantages of operating from the seafloor.
The prime contract is a single-award, cost-plus fixed-fee contract. It has a 14-month base period of performance and one six-month option. Its total value if the option is exercised is about $10 million.
"We're excited to continue to work with DARPA on this program, maintaining our commitment and focus on offering innovative solutions that will lead to a final sea test demonstration employing multiple long endurance nodes modified and tested for improved power efficiency, information assurance, enhanced signal processing and manufacturability," said John Fratamico, senior vice president and group general manager of Science Applications International Corporation.
SAIC completed the initial TRAPS prototype design under an earlier Deep Sea Operations Program Phase 1B, part of the Distributed Agile Submarine Hunting program, and also completed deep ocean acoustic data collection using the primary sensor intended for the TRAPS prototype in Phase 2 of the program.
Under Phase 3, SAIC will expand the number of prototype nodes to demonstrate a scalable distributed system prototype system to detect quiet submarines.