ASW
This air-dropped or ship-launched probe measures ocean water temperature as a function of depth to calculate real-time sound velocity profiles (SVP).
What is an AXBT / XBT (Expendable Bathythermograph)?
This mechanical shipboard haul-down system uses a high-tension cable and deck-mounted traverse carriage to land and secure an MH-60R in heavy sea states.
What is RAST (Recovery Assist, Secure and Traversing System)?
This surface-ship-launched anti-submarine rocket system carries a lightweight Mk 54 torpedo over rocket-propelled boost trajectories to engage distant submarine contacts rapidly.
What is VLA (Vertical Launch ASROC)?
This ASW brevity word specifically refers to a passive directional sonobuoy (DIFAR / AN/SSQ-53) in an active tactical buoy pattern.
What is POINTER?
When a submarine executes rapid evasive turns, drops decoys, and accelerates during an inbound torpedo attack, these maneuvers and countermeasure deployments are collectively called what?
What are Torpedo Evasion Tactics / ASW Countermeasures (Snap Turn, Knuckles, Decoys)?
This passive acoustic sonobuoy (AN/SSQ-53) uses orthogonal directional geophones to provide magnetic bearing and acoustic signature data to the processor.
What is DIFAR (Directional Frequency Analysis and Recording)?
Operating as the US Navy's primary maritime strike and airborne ASW asset, this MH-60 variant carries the fleet nickname "Romeo."
What is the MH-60R Seahawk?
In submarine combat systems, this mathematical process continuously calculates a target's range, bearing, course, and speed using passive sonar bearing histories before firing a torpedo.
What is Target Motion Analysis (TMA)?
When sensors detect an unknown submerged contact that has not yet been classified as hostile or friendly, this term is declared.
What is GOBLIN?
This secure tactical digital data network allows naval helicopters, surface ships, and maritime patrol aircraft to share real-time tactical track pictures, sensor tracks, and targeting data without voice comms.
What is Link 16 (TADIL-J)?
This long-range acoustic propagation path relies on acoustic energy traveling downward at steep angles, reflecting off a smooth ocean bed, and returning to the surface duct.
What is Bottom Bounce?
This variable-depth active/passive sonar system (AN/AQS-22) is deployed into the water column via a high-speed reeling machine to operate below the thermocline.
What is the Airborne Low-Frequency Sonar (ALFS)?
In addition to anti-submarine torpedoes, the MH-60R is armed with this laser-guided precision weapon for anti-surface warfare (ASuW) against fast attack craft. .
What is the AGM-114 Hellfire Missile?
An ASTAC issues this safety call to establish a restricted geographic area surrounding a torpedo launch where friendly surface and sub-surface vessels must clear the water.
What is DOGBOX?
This surface ship towed decoy system (AN/SLQ-25) generates acoustic signals to deceive and divert incoming acoustic homing torpedoes away from the vessel.
What is the NIXIE (AN/SLQ-25)?
The MH-60R utilizes this port-side mounted launch system to pre-program and pneumatically deploy up to 25 sonobuoys.
What is the Sonobuoy Launch Container (SLC)?
To defeat passive acoustic homing torpedoes, targeted submarines deploy these expendable acoustic devices that generate high-decibel broadband masking noise.
What are Acoustic Jammer / Noise Countermeasures (e.g., ADC / Effector)?
This brevity code word indicates that a sonobuoy has completed its operational battery life, flooded its float chamber, and scuttled itself to the sea floor.
What is SINKER?
The speed of sound in seawater is governed primarily by these three physical water column properties, with temperature having the strongest effect near the surface.
What are Temperature, Salinity, and Pressure (Depth)?
For anti-ship missions, the MH-60R's multi-mode radar can operate in this specific imaging mode, using target pitch, roll, and yaw motions to construct high-resolution 2D profile silhouettes of surface vessels.
What is ISAR (Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar)?