AIRBORNE INFRARED (ABIR)

Abstract

The best way to dissuade, deter, and defeat ballistic missile threats is through integrated ballistic missile defense capabilities--weapons, sensors, and Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC). A potential or actual attack may cross regions and may fly higher and faster than stand-alone, autonomous capabilities operated by a single Military Service can defend against. Integrated BMD capabilities draw on space-, land-, and sea-based assets operated by multiple Services to provide both the best sensor information on the enemy missile`s location and track as well as a more diverse and effective set of weapon options for the Combatant Commander to defeat the attack -- all connected by a unifying C2BMC system. As a result, an effort funded in a Program Element may be critical to success of efforts in other Program Elements -- we refer to these connections as ``interdependencies.`` Throughout the budget justification material, we have attempted to highlight interdependencies in order to fully explain the relationship between different parts of the proposed program. Our submission reflects the greater emphasis on defense of U.S. forces, allies, and friends from regional threats posed by thousands of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. The most cost-effective missile defense architecture is one that emphasizes intercepts of a threat missile in the early phases of flight. BMDS sensors can observe early intercepts the opportunity to shoot, assess, and shoot again, minimizing the need for costly salvos. Additionally, engaging earlier will serve to mitigate threat countermeasure effectiveness. As the Department shifts focus to address the looming threat of regional forces in large numbers, we aligned our technology investments with these objectives. Our systems engineering and architecture work uncovered gaps in our ability to 1) address large raid sizes, and 2) intercept the enemy early in his trajectory when the enemy is most vulnerable - assess - then reengage if necessary. We demonstrated the ability of infrared sensors carried aboard Navy Reaper unmanned aerial systems to observe ballistic missiles in flight at long distance during the ``Stellar Daggers`` test in Hawaii and the Delta II launch in California. The impressive results of these tests lead us to believe airborne sensors can be an effective component of the Ballistic Missile Defense System as early as 2015. Our technology development effort proves the capabilities needed to achieve early intercepts by conducting a series of ground and flight tests in FY 2010 - 2012, which allow a thorough operational assessment and proof of capability. These demonstrations incrementally prove the key functions of an airborne infrared sensor: acquisition of a threat based on a cue from Overhead Persistent Infrared satellites; tracking of a threat throughout its flight; generation of a 2-dimensional track prediction of the threat`s flight path based on a single airborne sensor; fusing multiple 2-dimensional tracks into a 3-dimensional track with sufficient accuracy to launch an interceptor; and delivering this information through the C2BMC system to the shooter. The Phased Adaptive Approach (PAA) was developed in response to the rapid proliferation of short and medium range ballistic missiles in Iran and the threat they pose to U.S. Allies and partners, as well as to U.S. deployed personnel and their accompanying families in the Middle East and in Europe. By leveraging recent advances in sensor and interceptor technologies, the United States will aggressively counter this growing regional threat with a more powerful and agile system. The United States is pursuing a four phased approach which will provide a more effective missile defense capability for defense of NATO territories and enhance U.S. homeland defense, it will be complementary of and interoperable with those being developed by NATO, be applicable in other theaters around the world, and will be more adaptable and flexible in order to counter threat advances and provide increased defended areas over time. The initial phase includes the deployment of current and proven missile defense, including the sea-based Aegis Weapons System, the SM-3 interceptor (Block IA), and sensors such as the forward-based Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance system (AN/TPY-2). Subsequent phases will be implemented based on technical maturity, appropriate testing, and threat driven requirements. Airborne Infrared Sensors are planned as a Phase 2 capability for the Phased Adaptive Approach and the associated functionality will be captured in future BMDS Integrated Build documentation when approved.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2011
• Source ID: 0604884C_4_0400_PB_2011
• Change Summary Explanation: No FY 2011 data provided in PB10.
• Service Agency Name: Missile Defense Agency

Entities

Organizations

• Missile Defense Agency

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Sensors
• Space
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Ballistic Missiles
• Battle Management
• Command And Control
• Cost Analysis
• Defense Systems
• Engineering
• Ground Stations
• Homeland Defense
• Infrared Detectors
• Multitarget Tracking
• Product Development
• Sea Based
• Simulations
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation
• Three Dimensional

Readers

• Missile Defense Systems.
• Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.
• Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Space
• Space - Space Objects