H. Fitski - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Some papers by H. Fitski

ABSTRACT During the various phases of the Defense acquisition process, and in the early design ph... more ABSTRACT During the various phases of the Defense acquisition process, and in the early design phases, many decisions must be made concerning the performance and cost of the new equipment. Often many of these decisions are made while having only a limited view of their consequences or based on subjective information. Moreover, it is known that the impact of the decisions taken in the early design phases is large; they generally determine as much as 80% of the total life cycle costs. This highlights the need for decision making support in these areas. To support decision-makers, during the various phases of the Defense acquisition process we introduce the Simulation Based Performance Assessment (SBPA) methodology. This methodology allows a transparent, unbiased and integral performance assessment of (future) platforms. It is based on Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA) and simulation techniques, and it considers the operational effectiveness, survivability, sustainability, and life cycle costs in the assessment. The methodology can be applied during acquisition of new platforms and systems as well as during maintenance and upgrade programs. The developed SBPA methodology aims at integrally testing one or more system designs. The SBPA methodology supports: 1. integrally judging a single platform's design on its performance and comparing this performance with the life cycle costs; 2. comparing multiple platform designs on performance and life cycle costs. This paper describes the SBPA methodology and the philosophy behind it. To illustrate its use, it also presents a case study that analyses and assesses alternative designs of a possible future platform. The case study involves the simulation of the platform's tasks from the perspective of operate, survive and sustain, and involves the calculation of its life cycle costs. This case shows that the SBPA methodology can be applied effectively to support making well-informed decisions during acquisition programs.

Papers by H. Fitski

The forward areas for an LPD in littoral waters can be full of surprises. A novel concept is pres... more The forward areas for an LPD in littoral waters can be full of surprises. A novel concept is presented for a networked screen consisting of elements of increasing capability to provide a progressive response to the threat. This MiNeS concept substantially improves the capability of the LPD as an autonomous operational unit. The separate elements form a reactive screen centered on the LPD to protect and support its coastal operations. The screen elements range from intelligent self-organizing wireless networks of buoys and UUVs to small manned submersibles (SMS). The scenario of progressive response has three stages. The first stage involves a screen of forward placed intelligent buoys that provide a good first impression of the forward area both on the surface and below. These units collect acoustic, radar and communication signals and are capable of local processing of data. This relevant information about the environment is shared between the buoys. The surveillance is directed at finding mines, hostile surface units, submarines and enemy UUVs and at identifying related activities on shore. For the next stage it may be necessary to deploy UUVs equipped with, for instance, side scan sonar to get a more detailed picture of the littoral environment. An SMS can be a means for covert delivery of the network of buoys and/or UUVs. In the third, the reaction stage, the SMS missions vary from intensive surveillance in the forward area to destroying detected mines and offensive actions against hostile units to protect the LPD. The SMS would be well suited for covert delivery of swimmers or landing advance shore parties. The ‘triple hull’ SMS design, typically sized in the 250 t range, has a maximum submersed speed of 9+ kt. It has appropriate sensor suite, e.g. Sonars, ESM, and is fitted with 2 to 4 launching tubes for weapons, UUVs, buoys, etc.

More than a decade ago, the long-term NATO scientific study “Maritime Operations in 2015” (MO 201... more More than a decade ago, the long-term NATO scientific study “Maritime Operations in 2015” (MO 2015) identified the so-called multi-platform and co-operative multi-static Low Frequency Active Sonar (LFAS) concept, involving co-operative sonar data exchange between surface ships and submarines. Several studies have since shown the benefits of multi-platform and multi-static operations. To facilitate our studies and the development of tactics in the near future, TNO Defence, Security and Safety started the development of the Underwater Warfare Testbed (UWT). This testbed integrates the simulation models TDSTB (Torpedo Defence System TestBed) and MUST (MUltiSTatic facility tool) and ALMOST (Acoustic Loss Model for Operational Studies and Tasks). This paper presents the architecture and the applications of the Underwater Warfare Testbed. In this testbed all relevant UWW assets, including vessels with sonars, helicopters with dipping sonars, and also enemy submarines (with their sonars an...

Surface vessels and submarines must be able to defend themselves against a torpedo attack. Severa... more Surface vessels and submarines must be able to defend themselves against a torpedo attack. Several studies have shown the benefits of multi-platform and multi-static operations. To facilitate torpedo defence system studies and the development of future tactics, TNO Defence, Security and Safety started the development of the Underwater Warfare Testbed (UWT). This testbed integrates the simulation models TDSTB (Torpedo Defence System TestBed), MUST (MUltiSTatic facility tool) and ALMOST (Acoustic Loss Model for Operational Studies and Tasks). The testbed models all relevant UWW assets, including vessels with sonars, helicopters with dipping sonars, and also enemy submarines (with their sonars and weapons). Each platform can use its own predefined tactics to operate alone or in task group formations. The UWT simulates the kinematics, communication and detailed acoustics signal levels (passive, active mono-static and bi-static, and intercept sonars) using the acoustic propagation and so...

In veel maritieme operaties vormt het proces van oppervlaktebeeldopbouw een belangrijke component... more In veel maritieme operaties vormt het proces van oppervlaktebeeldopbouw een belangrijke component. Door middel van simulatle is het mogelijk dit proces te verbeteren en daarmee de operationele effectiviteit van een maritieme operatie te verhogen. Daarom heeft de afdeling Military Operations van TNO een simulatiemodel voor maritieme oppervlaktebeeldopbouw ontwikkeld: SURPASS (afkorting van SURface Picture ASSessment). In dit model zijn de aspecten van maritieme oppervlakte beeldopbouw in detail gemodelleerd. Het doel van simulatie met SURPASS is het verkrijgen van inzicht In de effecten van verschillende middelen voor beeldopbouw en van verschillende gebruikte tactieken. Met dit artikel beogen de auteurs het model en zijn toepassingsmogeljkheden bekend te stellen.

During the past two decades the global security situation has seen some drastic changes. The oper... more During the past two decades the global security situation has seen some drastic changes. The operational scope of the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) has expanded from operations on the open seas to operations both on the open seas and in littoral waters. A considerable part of the relevant operations now take place outside NATO territory. This shift in focus will result in an increasing number of expeditionary operations. Expeditionary operations consist of the following phases: departure – transit – arrival in the littoral – military operations in the littoral. Traditional anti-submarine warfare on the open seas is based on a mobile task group in transit in which the opponent’s operations are restricted by the speed of advance of the task group. After arrival in the littoral, however, the task group operates stationary, e.g. as part of a sea base. Such stationary operations are relatively new and new types of problems emerge: different types of threat may come from various direction...

Maritime security operations, such as counter-piracy operations, often take place in vast areas o... more Maritime security operations, such as counter-piracy operations, often take place in vast areas of open sea. This requires operating in a coalition task force consisting of multiple task units, each composed of a number of naval assets such as frigates, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). For the planning of these operations, we introduce a two-level approach. At the first level, the area of operations is divided into sectors and the available task units are assigned to these sectors. The second level consists of the tactical planning of the deployment of the individual assets of a task unit within the task unit’s sector. In this paper, we propose algorithms to tackle both levels of planning. For maritime security operations in general, we introduce an allocation algorithm for dividing an area of operations, based on the capabilities of the individual task units, in such a way that the expected effectiveness of the task force as a whole is optimal. For counter-piracy o...

The future of manned submarines is currently in question as a result of rapid developments in aut... more The future of manned submarines is currently in question as a result of rapid developments in autonomy in other fields (e.g. autonomous cars). Therefore, the feasibility of an unmanned submarine, basically a large unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), as a replacement for a conventional diesel-electric submarine (SSK), was investigated. Characteristics (speed, range, endurance, payload capacity, autonomy, reliability) of a hypothetical generic unmanned submarine design were estimated using expert judgement to predict the state of the art of critical technologies (energy storage, artificial intelligence, etc.) that might be available beginning in 2027. Next, the operational performance of this future unmanned submarine was evaluated using a set of operations that are typical for an SSK. This evaluation showed that an unmanned submarine will not be able to replace the SSK beginning in 2027. Smaller UUVs, however, could be a valuable addition to an SSK.

: The introduction of unmanned vehicles may have serious consequences for naval operations. There... more : The introduction of unmanned vehicles may have serious consequences for naval operations. Therefore, in the future the Royal Netherlands Navy needs to have sufficient knowledge to be able to make sound decisions with respect to procurement and employment of such vehicles. The an earlier study research had already been carried out into unmanned aerial vehicles. In this project it was examined which defence capabilities can be carried out with unmanned surface and underwater vehicles. First an inventory of current and future unmanned vehicles and a subdivision into three categories were made. Next it was tried to project the listed vehicles on the capability list of the Royal Netherlands Navy. This appeared to be difficult, because for this study the capabilities were not detailed enough. Therefore, these capabilities were further subdivided into `subcapabilities', so next the suitability of the listed vehicles for those subcapabilities could be investigated.

During the past two decades the global security situation has seen some drastic changes. The oper... more During the past two decades the global security situation has seen some drastic changes. The operational scope of the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) has expanded from operations on the open seas to operations both on the open seas and in littoral waters. A considerable part of the relevant operations now take place outside NATO territory. Traditional anti-submarine warfare on the open seas is based on a mobile task group in transit in which the opponent’s operations are restricted by the speed of advance of the task group. After arrival in the littoral, however, the task group operates stationary, e.g. as part of a sea base. Such stationary operations are relatively new and new types of problems emerge: different types of threat may come from various directions, the possibility of blue-on-blue engagements increases, current sensor and weapon systems have not been optimised for stationary operations, etc.

Since 1998, TNO Defence, Security and Safety has performed operational analysis with the Underwat... more Since 1998, TNO Defence, Security and Safety has performed operational analysis with the Underwater Warfare Testbed, which provides an environment for evaluation and validation of systems, concepts, and tactics. On top of this testbed the Torpedo Defence System TestBed has been built to simulate torpedoes, torpedo detection systems and torpedo countermeasures. Studies are performed in a research programme in which knowledge in this field is acquired to support the Royal Netherlands Navy in the procurement of new torpedoes and torpedo defence systems. This paper focuses on the most recent studies into the use of existing sonar systems (towed, hull mounted and dipping) to detect torpedoes. The detection performance results are used in the Area Torpedo Defence study to determine the composition of ship formations, which are in transit or operate in expeditionary operations including sea basing. Furthermore, the deployment of torpedo countermeasures in two different torpedo defence conc...

During the various phases of the Defense acquisition process, and in the early design phases, man... more During the various phases of the Defense acquisition process, and in the early design phases, many decisions must be made concerning the performance and cost of the new equipment. Often many of these decisions are made while having only a limited view of their consequences or based on subjective information. Moreover, it is known that the impact of the decisions taken in the early design phases is large; they generally determine as much as 80% of the total life cycle costs. This highlights the need for decision making support in these areas. To support decision-makers, during the various phases of the Defense acquisition process we introduce the Simulation Based Performance Assessment (SBPA) methodology. This methodology allows a transparent, unbiased and integral performance assessment of (future) platforms. It is based on Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA) and simulation techniques, and it considers the operational effectiveness, survivability, sustainability, and life cycle costs in t...

During the past two decades the global security situation has seen some drastic changes. The oper... more During the past two decades the global security situation has seen some drastic changes. The operational scope of the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) has expanded from operations on the open seas to operations both on the open seas and in littoral waters. A considerable part of the relevant operations now take place outside NATO territory. Traditional anti-submarine warfare on the open seas is based on a mobile task group in transit in which the opponent’s operations are restricted by the speed of advance of the task group. After arrival in the littoral, however, the task group operates stationary, e.g. as part of a sea base. Such stationary operations are relatively new and new types of problems emerge: different types of threat may come from various directions, the possibility of blue-on-blue engagements increases, current sensor and weapon systems have not been optimised for stationary operations, etc.