Ballistic Missile Defense Sensors

Abstract

The BMDS network of layered Sensors provide essential situational awareness and fire control data for the command and control of BMDS weapon systems, such as Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD), Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). The suite of remote ground-based sensors provide early warning, midcourse and terminal ballistic missile defense threat data enabling layered detection and tracking of ballistic missile targets, providing fire-control quality position, velocity, and discrimination data through Command and Control, Battle Management, Communications (C2BMC). Overlapping sensor coverage of geographically diverse sensors provides improved threat track data as well as reducing the loss of any one sensor and reducing the potential impact of countermeasures. The extended coverage and accuracy provided by a network of layered sensors increases the defensive footprint and reduces the number of target engagements required, thereby conserving interceptor inventory and ensuring a high probability of successful engagement. Networked forward-based sensors enables C2BMC to pair the best sensor coverage with the best available weapon system to provide the most effective defense against ballistic missile threats. The BMD Sensors Program contributes to regional missile defense through the following activities: -Development, delivery and deployment of remote, forward based Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance and Control (AN/TPY-2) radars to provide early warning, track, and discrimination data through all phases of ballistic missile flight. Through the BMDS C2BMC and coalition datalinks, the AN/TPY-2 provides fire control data to enable remote SM-3 engagements by Aegis BMD, to allow earlier engagement by the Arrow Weapon System, and to cue deployed THAAD and U.S. and partner Patriot batteries. The operation and sustainment of AN/TPY-2 software is maintained across the fleet of AN/TPY-2 radars, to include radars in Japan, Israel, and Turkey. Lessons learned from each radar are addressed in new software builds that are developed, tested, and subsequently installed at each radar. AN/TPY-2 radars can be configured to operate either as a THAAD Fire Unit Radar (terminal mode) or Forward-Based Radar. These radars are transportable, adding flexibility to respond to geographical changes in threats. Under this Program Element, seven AN/TPY-2 radars have completed manufacturing. The AN/TPY-2 used in a forward-based role provides detection and tracking during the boost phase. This significantly reduces the uncertainty in target discrimination and reaction time, increasing the probability of a successful BMDS engagement. In forward-based mode, the AN/TPY-2 also provides acquisition and track data via the Ballistic Missile Defense System Command, Control, Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC) and Link 16 to the Aegis missile defense system for cueing. The AN/TPY-2 used in terminal mode is an integral component of the THAAD Battery. The THAAD battery radar is capable of tracking multiple threats and multiple interceptors during engagements in the terminal phase. It provides surveillance, acquisition, track, discrimination, interceptor communications, and hit assessment data collection for the fire control. The current and planned utilization of the AN/TPY-2 radars supports GMD, THAAD, and the Aegis Weapon System via C2BMC. The BMDS network of sensors also includes the Cobra Dane Radar at Eareckson Air Force Station in Alaska, Upgraded Early Warning Radars at Beale Air Force Base, Fylingdales RAF Station, UK, and at Thule Air Force Station in Greenland. These Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Early Warning Radars have been upgraded to include missile defense functionality. This capability expands defense of the U.S. to include defense against limited long-range threats. The Clear EWR located at Clear Air Force Station, AK, is also being upgraded to include missile defense functionality. Upgrade activities will begin in FY 2012 and be completed in FY 2016. The addition of the Clear UEWR into the BMDS sensor architecture will improve BMDS sensor coverage and provide new engagement options against long-range missile threats and reduce reliance on the Cobra Dane asset. The BMDS Sensors Program also contributes to the testing and proving of the U.S. missile defense systems through the following activities: -Participation in BMDS flight and ground test campaigns -Modeling and simulation efforts to include: enhanced sensor models, development of radio frequency (RF) scene generators, integration of digital simulations into the BMDS modeling and simulation architecture, and verification, validation, and accreditation (VV&A) of radar models.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2013
• Source ID: 0603884C_4_0400_PB_2013
• Change Summary Explanation: The FY 2011 decrease of $65.600M .reflects a congressional reduction (Department of Defense and Full Year Continuing Appropriation Act, Public Law 112-10) and a congressional transfer of funds to MDA Test and Targets Program Elements 0603888C The FY 2012 decrease of $0.299M reflects a congressional reduction (Consolidated Appropriation Act of FY 2012 (Public Law 112-74)). The FY 2013 reduction of $10.259M reflects a realignment of Department of Defense priorities.
• Service Agency Name: Missile Defense Agency

Entities

Organizations

• Missile Defense Agency

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Cyber
• Sensors
• Space
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Air Force
• Ballistic Missiles
• Battle Management
• Command And Control
• Cost Analysis
• Defense Systems
• Deployment
• Detectors
• Early Warning Systems
• Engineering
• Information Assurance
• Logistics
• Radar
• Reliability
• Simulations
• Test And Evaluation

Readers

• Missile Defense Systems.
• Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.

Technology Areas

• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control