NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND PATUXENT RIVER, Md.: The Portable Undersea Training Range, located at the Pacific Missile Range Facility Kauai, Hawaii, completed a major operational evaluation in July.
During the test, the range, also known as PUTR, accomplished key performance requirements, such as accuracy in target identification and continual target observance. Additionally, the U.S. Navy retrieved all acoustic transponders at completion of the exercise, signifying a major achievement.
According to Robert Reid, technical program manager, transponders are deployed with an anchor and remain moored to the ocean floor for the duration of the operation. At the completion of the test, the range support ship transmits an acoustic release signal for flotation to the surface.
The range is a self-contained, portable, undersea training system equipped with multiple- transponders that accurately determine the position of various underwater participants, including submarines, surface ships, unmanned undersea vehicles, weapons and mobile targets. It also supports in-water tracking of weapons deployed by naval aircraft.
“The success of this test is a huge step toward providing the U.S. Pacific Fleet an accurate, instrumented undersea training range in the western Pacific,” Reid said.
The PUTR is being developed by the Naval Aviation Training Systems program office (PMA-205), Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., in conjunction with the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport, R.I.
It will provide forward-deployed naval forces an effective means to conduct Undersea Warfare Exercises, also known as USW, at various ocean sites and depths.
The range employs modern technologies to support coordinated USW training for forward-deployed naval forces components to include mission-capable surface ships, fast-attack submarines and aircraft, by providing a location to safely and effectively conduct training, as well as exercise and evaluate sensor systems, weapons systems and crews in situations that replicate potential combat areas.
The basic PUTR operational configuration consists of an array of bottom-mounted transponders, a transponder subsurface link (hub), a range support vessel with a shipboard range operations center, and a satellite link to a shore-based remote display center.
The range can be deployable to multiple locations with a PUTR system and will be ready for operational exercises late fall 2010.
