The Journal of the Acoustical Society of KoreaISSN:1225-4428(Print) 2287-3775(Online)한국음향학회

In modern Anti-Submarine Warfare, there are various ways to locate a submarine in a two-dimensional space. For more effective tracking and attack against a submarine the depth of the target is a critical factor. However, it has been difficult to find out the depth of a submarine until now. In this paper a possible solution to the depth estimation of submarines is proposed utilizing DIFAR (Directional Frequency Analysis and Recording) sonobuoy information such as contact bearings at or prior to CPA (Closest Point of Approach) and the target's Doppler signals. The relative depth of the target is determined by applying the Pythagorean theorem to the slant range and horizontal range between the target and the hydrophone of a DIFAR sonobuoy. The slant range is calculated using the Doppler shift and the target’s velocity. the horizontal range can be obtained by applying a simple trigonometric function for two consecutive contact bearings and the travel distance of the target. The simulation results show that the algorithm is subject to an elevation angle, which is determined by the relative depth and horizontal distance between the sonobuoy and target, and that a precise measurement of the Doppler shift is crucial.