56 



HOUSE COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES 



SUBCOMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY, 



GULF OF MEXICO AND THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF 



HEARING ON: DUAL USE OF DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY 



AUGUST 4, 1993 



QUESTIONS FOR THE RECORD TO MR. ROBERT W. WINOKUR 



Question 2. In terms of ocean models and data, what are the security 

 concerns? Why are certain data not released or released after a waiting period? 

 Answer: In general, our security concerns are directed toward not releasing to 

 the public domain. Navy developed oceanographic models which could be 

 acquired by a potential adversary for use in military actions against us or our 

 allies. The models of concern are those designed tor military applications, such 

 as understanding the limits imposed by the environment on sonar detection, 

 oceanographic factors limiting weapons systems performance, and improving 

 prediction and analytical models that help weapons system designers and 

 operators understand system performance. There is no intention to classify the 

 physics-rather only the applications to weapons systems and capabilities, e.g. 

 mine dnft/bunal. Likewise, high resolution, geographic and system related data 

 collected for ASW acoustic parameters, ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) 

 operations, and weapons are classified. 



There are certain data sets which have not been released and do not have 

 a declassification date. These include data which indicate regions of high 

 operational interest, e.g. tracks revealing certain operational intent or locations 

 of specific interest, and data accepted from foreign navies on the basis of 

 restricted distribution. 



UNCLASSIFIED 



