Past and future contexts for sonar development

The Navy faces a world environment that is changing at a high rate. Opponent seapower is growing stronger daily. Future funding for the Navy will be level at best and will probably decline. Our task is to guarantee free use of the seas ( for ourselves, our allies and neutrals, despite these factors. We can accomplish this task providing we: (i) guarantee the invulnerability of our FBM submarine second-strike capability, (2) apply the concepts of deterrence to major confrontations at sea, (3) replace our aging Naval surface ships with larger numbers of smaller high-performance ships, and (4) accept that the world situation ard funds will not allow us to deny use of the seas to our opponents except under very limited and clearly delineated circumstances. Our sonar program will of necessity focus on high-potential systems relative to the foregoing. Passive detection of surface ships and high-speed submarines should be given priority, since low-speed submarines will become virtually undetectable.