Aerial Targets

Abstract

Full-scale Aerial Targets (FSAT), Subscale Aerial Targets (SSAT), and companion Target Control Systems (TCS) assure the effectiveness and currency of warfighter weapon systems to combat real-world enemy fighters and cruise missiles. Aerial targets support adherence to Public Law Title 10, Section 2366, which requires major systems and munitions programs to conduct live fire survivability and lethality testing before full rate production. Targets are used to validate operational missile/weapon system effectiveness and fighter Operational Flight Program (OFP) updates. Targets are required for developmental/operational testing for all air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles, and for the F-22A, F-35, F-18, F-16, F-15, among other aircraft. Funding supports simulator development and improvements on the QF-16 FSAT, BQM-167A SSAT, and updates of Target Control Systems and specialized target payload subsystems for requirements such as: missile scoring, electronic attack (EA), infrared (IR) countermeasures, radar/IR signature augmentation, and chaff and flare dispensing systems. Enables analysis, development and prototyping of threat emulations/simulations, and presentation of evolving threat scenarios and target area environments to prepare for emerging weapons development activities. Development is required to evolve aerial targets and target control capabilities to meet current and future threats. Air Force is the executive agent for full-scale aerial targets. The Aerial Targets Program implements tenets of Open, Agile, and Digital acquisition for any new subsystem hardware or software development. Integrates the system in weapon portfolio tradespace studies by conducting trade studies, system engineering, test activities, and system modeling and simulation. Builds and refines a mission modeling framework by incorporating higher-fidelity weapon system designs and updates to the threat landscape to conduct ongoing assessment of weapon system performance against the authoritative threat. Invests in analytical, information management, data management, digital environments, and networks directly supporting development and sustainment of this program's capabilities, while leveraging DoD and DAF enterprise IT solutions. Leverages Digital acquisition tenets of open, agile and digital. This may include providing funds to prime contractors; program office contract support; facility, security and IT upgrades; common component development with other weapon systems to reduce redundant costs. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY22 0.0M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY23 0.0M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. The FY2024 funding request was reduced by 0.545 million to account for the availability of prior year execution balances. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2024
Source ID
0305116F_7_3600_PB_2024
Change Summary Explanation
FY24 increase for enhancements required for the Target Control System (TCS) Upgrade
Service Agency Name
Air Force

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Kinetic Weapons

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aerial Targets
  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Command And Control
  • Contracts
  • Control Systems
  • Cruise Missiles
  • Emerging Threats
  • Engineering
  • Production
  • Systems Engineering
  • Target Drones
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Weapon System Effectiveness
  • Weapon Systems
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics

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