We called these missions Surface Surveillance & Control (SSC).
Her radar allowed her crew (and the rest of the battle group via secure Data Link 11), to create an accurate surface plot. Of course, the S-3A was not limited to ASW. Pretty damn cool for an aircraft designed in the late ‘60s.
As the aircraft symbol-or “bug” as we called it-captured the tasking symbology, the computer would send electrons to those particular parts of the aircraft and perform the assigned function. In other words, with input from all crew stations, the TACCO (Tactical Coordinator) could “fly” the plane from the backseat using fly-to-points (FTPs) and sensor/weapons select choices. Once the sensors had detected a specific threat, the computer could take input from aircraft avionics and move the airplane to intercept the target, automatically releasing its weapons. What was so fascinating about all of these systems is how the GPDC, a computer produced in the late 1960s, could take input from them and create displays for all four of the Viking’s crew to perform the various roles assigned. Finally, IBM also contributed to her non-acoustic detection prowess by creating the groundbreaking AN/ALR-47 ESM (electronic support measures) system. Texas Instruments contributed the AN/APS-116 radar, the AN/ASQ-81 MAD (magnetic anomaly detector) system, and the AN/OR-89 FLIR (forward-looking infrared) systems that made the Viking state-of-the-art in non-acoustic detection of submarines. Univac joined Lockheed’s effort, providing the AN/AYK-10 General Purpose Digital Computer (GPDC) that coordinated input from all of the Viking’s sensors.
naval aircraft designed from the drawing board to be a submarine hunter and killer in one fuselage, the S-3 was the first carrier-based jet designed to perform that mission with all its hunt and kill computerized. She would not only perform the roles expected of the Tracker, but excel at so many more during her lifetime. Thus, in 1966, a call was sent out to the aviation industry to bring carrier-based ASW into the latter half of the 20th Century. So, the S-2s need for Avgas, requiring extra fuel storage separate from jet fuel, and its overall obsolescence forced the Navy’s hand. The USN decided to bring ASW (anti-submarine warfare) to the supercarriers, particularly the Nimitz class boats, the newest addition to the carrier fleet. Getting rid of excess expenditures was necessary and an entire class of ASW aircraft carriers, the Essex boats, which were home to the anti-submarine, or "VS," squadrons flying the S-2, were seen as an unneeded fiscal burden. The Navy was also deeply affected by the budget drain brought on by combat operations in Vietnam. The S-2 was designed to track diesel submarines and her airframe just couldn’t adapt to the necessity of new technology. The introduction of nuclear propulsion for submarines changed their combat capability and performance and transformed ASW acoustics. The Grumman S-2 Tracker had served the USN admirably since 1954, but naval technology had changed significantly during that time and it just couldn’t keep up. (2013) The role of economic and social factors driving predator control in small-game estates in central Spain.The Many Missions Of The Marvelous Viking Delibes-Mateos, M., Díaz-Fernández, S., Ferreras, P., Viñuela, J., Arroyo, B.(2013) Effect of management on wild red-legged partridge abundance. Díaz-Fernández, S., Arroyo, B., Casas, F., Martínez-Haro, M., Viñuela, J.(2013) Market value of restocking and landscape in red-legged partridge hunting: A study based on advertisements. Díaz-Fernández, S., Arroyo, B., Viñuela, J., Patiño-Pascumal, I., Riera, P.(2013) Matching observations and reality: using simulation models to improve monitoring under uncertainty in the Serengeti. Nuno A., Bunnefeld, N., Milner-Gulland, E.
(in press) A novel approach to assessing the prevalence and drivers of illegal bushmeat hunting in the Serengeti.