View source for Ship Self-Defense System

{{Short description|Combat system for non-AEGIS ships of the US Navy}}
{{Redirect|SSDS|the drug-related condition|Sudden sniffing death syndrome}}
{{Cleanup-PR|1=article|date=December 2013}}

The '''Ship Self-Defense System''' ('''SSDS''') is a combat system specifically designed for [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-air defense]] of [[aircraft carriers]], and most other non-[[Aegis Combat System|Aegis]] [[United States Navy]] combat ships.  It coordinates several existing shipboard systems. Multi-sensor integration, parallel processing and the coordination of hard and soft kill [[countermeasure]] capabilities are key components of the SSDS. Responses to airborne threats are based on automated or [[Command guidance|man-in-the-loop]] engagement doctrine.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dtic.mil/descriptivesum/Y2013/Navy/stamped/0604755N_5_PB_2013.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111025007/http://www.dtic.mil/descriptivesum/Y2013/Navy/stamped/0604755N_5_PB_2013.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |title=Exhibit R-2, RDT&E Budget Item Justification: PB 2013 Navy |publisher=Defense Technical Information Center |date=February 2012 |accessdate=2013-12-13}}</ref>

The SSDS system coordinates many sensors, self-defense weapons and countermeasures installed aboard [[United States Navy]] ships. The main objective of SSDS is countering [[sea-skimming]] [[anti-ship missile]] threats, but it can also engage high-diving [[anti-ship missiles]] and aircraft. A major advantage SSDS holds over other defense systems is the integration of many disparate sensors and the ability to automate the fire control loop to shorten overall detect-to-engage timeline.<ref name="defencetalk1">{{cite press release|author=Raytheon |url=https://www.defencetalk.com/raytheon-completes-ship-self-defense-system-deliveries-39674/ |title=Raytheon Completes Ship Self-Defense System Deliveries |publisher=Defencetalk.com |date=2012-01-17 |accessdate=2013-12-13}}</ref>{{Verify source|date=December 2013}}

SSDS does not improve the capability of individual sensors, but it fuses the active and passive sensors to form a composite track and improve [[Automatic target recognition|automatic target tracking]]. The major benefits of this combination are an improved anti-[[cruise missile]] capability and faster reaction times in the [[Littoral (military)|littoral]] battle space and using track data from the other fleet and land sensors with the [[Cooperative Engagement Capability]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/mk-1.htm |title=MK-1 Ship Self Defense System [SSDS] |publisher=[[Federation of American Scientists]] |date=November 26, 1999 |accessdate=2013-12-13}}</ref>

As well as controlling the hard-kill weapons on board such as the [[RIM-162 ESSM|Evolved Sea-Sparrow Missile]] and the [[RIM-116 RAM|Rolling Airframe Missile]]- the SSDS is also integrated into the soft-kill equipment, including decoys and control of the [[electronic warfare]] system. It also includes embedded software that enables the system to be used as the auto detection to engage the decision aid.

SSDS Mark 2 has six variants:<ref name="autogeneratedmil">{{cite web|url=http://www.dote.osd.mil/pub/reports/FY2011/pdf/navy/2011ssds.pdf |title=Navy Programs{{Snd}} Ship Self-Defense |publisher=dote.osd.mil |date= |pages=171–174 |work=DOT&E FY2011 Annual Report |accessdate=2013-12-13}}</ref>
* Mod 1, used in [[Nimitz-class aircraft carrier|CVN 68 class aircraft carriers]]
* Mod 2, used in [[San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock|LPD-17 class amphibious ships]]
* Mod 3, used in [[Wasp-class amphibious assault ship|LHD-1 class amphibious ships]]
* Mod 4, for [[America-class amphibious assault ship|LHA-6 class amphibious ships]]
* Mod 5, for [[Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship|LSD-41]] and [[Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship|LSD-49]] amphibious ship classes
* Mod 6, in development for [[Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier|CVN 78 class aircraft carriers]]

The sensors that are fused into a composite picture include:<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-95281612.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513082127/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-95281612.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 13, 2014 |title=Navy Marks Successful Tests of SSDS Mk2 Mod. 1. (Ship Self Defense System) |newspaper=Defense Daily |date=December 10, 2002 |accessdate=2013-12-13 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
* [[AN/SPS-49]] air search radar,
* [[AN/SPS-48]]E & G three dimensional air search radar,
* The Dual Band Radar ([[AN/SPY-3|SPY-3]] & SPY-4) on CVN 78 class,
* [[AN/SPQ-9#SPQ-9B|AN/SPQ-9]]B horizon search radar,
* [[AN/SPS-67]] surface search radar,
* AN/SPS-73 surface search/navigation radar system,<ref>{{Cite web| title=Ship Self-Defense for LHA 6 | url=https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2017/navy/2017ssdforlha.pdf?ver=2019-08-19-113709-537 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019082014/https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2017/navy/2017ssdforlha.pdf?ver=2019-08-19-113709-537 | archive-date=2020-10-19}}</ref>
* [[AN/SLQ-32 electronic warfare suite|AN/SLQ-32]] electronic warfare system,
* Centralized [[Identification friend or foe|Identification Friend or Foe]] (CIFF).

==See also==
* [[Advanced combat direction system]]
* [[H/ZKJ]]
* [[Naval Tactical Data System]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Equipment of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Anti-aircraft warfare]]
[[Category:Aircraft carriers]]