Multi-frequency array beamformer for broadband signals

Conventional towed array beamformers process different frequency bands using separate hydrophone nests. While appropriate for narrowband signals, for broadband signals this approach unnecessarily throws away signal information and splits up the signal over several displays. This results in performance degradation when processing broadband signals such as impulsive echoes. AETC has developed a full-array, full-bandwidth beamformer that represents a significant improvement to the conventional towed array beamformer. We will present performance predictions and results for the SQR-19 array using data recorded at sea.