Improving anti-submarine warfare sonar performance modelling using BLUElink forecast environmental data

The underwater environment is often complex and highly variable in space and time, making it difficult to model the detection performance of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) sonar systems. Furthermore, the environment can result in complex active sonar data displays that are difficult to interpret. The performance of the sonar system can be enhanced by understanding and exploiting knowledge about the underwater environment. This paper illustrates how relevant and timely environmental data from the BLUElink ocean model can be used to improve sonar performance modelling and assist the sonar operator interpret complex sonar data displays.