80 



improved techniques in amphibious operations as well as civilian 

 coastal engineering concerns and resource management. 



Crucial to Navy's success in coastal regions is development 

 of higher resolution remote sensing techniques as well as 

 autonomous systems with increased on-scene information processing 

 capabilities. ONR is initiating a program to understand the 

 content and utility of a "weather signal tap" from the AEGIS 

 SPY- ID radar system. As this technology matures, the AEGIS 

 system could be configured to accept or reject environmental data 

 internally, reducing clutter and false targets in real-time. 

 Such techniques, once developed, could be used to provide 

 improved support to both military and civilian applications, 

 especially aviation. 



Another science and technology partnership is the concept 

 for a network of inexpensive undersea vehicles and components 

 linked by acoustic modems. Initially driven by the need for 

 cost-effective measurements under the Arctic ice, this may prove 

 to be a very efficient means to survey the world oceans for a 

 variety of uses. As a result of this emerging technology the 

 ocean community, at large, will benefit from vast improvements in 

 ocean observations. Potential military applications for this 

 sam.e technology range from mine warfare to antisubmarine 

 operations. Much of this work --as well as many of Navy's past 

 acco-plishments in deep submergence -- are subjects of a pending 

 report of the National Research Council's Marine Board on 

 "Undersea Vehicles and National Needs." 



The important role played by the Arctic Ocean in global 

 climate, and international concern for pollution in the region, 

 have fueled greater interest in Arctic research by civilian 

 oceanographers . Navy's submarine community now works with ONR 

 and t-he National Science Foundation to host an annual Submarine 

 Arctic Science Cruise, called "SCICEX, " for researchers aboard 

 operational submarines under the Arctic ice. This program gives 

 unprecedented access to Arctic oceanography for all scientists 

 while providing Navy with an additional mission to maintain 

 proficiency in under ice operations. 



Another exciting example of dual-use possibilities involving 

 a Navy operational system is the Integrated Undersea Surveillance 

 System (lUSS) . Developed during the Cold War to counter the 

 threat posed by the Soviet submarine fleet, the system is 



7 



