N6833521C0050

Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase I

High-frequency Directive and Reconfigurable Aperstructures (HiDRA)

Desktop Tactics Trainer for Maritime Patrol Aircraft

While the P-8A Poseidon, the U.S. Navy's multi-mission maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, supports a myriad of mission types, it serves as the Navy's primary anti-submarine warfare (ASW) platform. P-8A aircrews are led by the Tactical Coordinator (TACCO), whose principle ASW role is implementing tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) via tactical employment of sonobuoys and torpedoes. Due to the complexity of the job, repetition of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) throughout the training syllabus can help trainees achieve the TACCO qualification and overall proficiency. However, due to operational squadron demands on time, manpower limitations, and P-8A training device allocation limitations, TACCO upgraders (i.e., Co-Tactical Coordinators (COTAC), TACCO-in-training) have limited opportunities to practice ASW tactics apart from dedicated syllabus events. These training deficits manifest exponentially during squadron deployments where high fidelity trainers such as the part-task trainer and the weapons tactics trainer are unavailable. Soar Technology Inc. in collaboration with Aviation Systems Engineering Company, Inc., propose the Interactive Maritime Patrol Anti-Submarine Crewmember Trainer (IMPACT), a lightweight software solution to provide portable and readily available training of ASW and ISR tactics for P-8A COTAC officers preparing for TACCO certification. IMPACT will enable a TACCO upgrader to practice maritime patrol tactics in an interactive, constructive simulation environment and receive performance assessment feedback immediately after each training exercise to improve KSA and support certification achievement.

The goal of phase I is to establish the technical merit, feasibility, and commercial potential of proposed R&D efforts and determine the quality of performance of the small business awardee organization.

N202-111

N202-111-0255

20.2

Denise Nicholson