Technical Applications Programs

Abstract

Project 2228 consists of three elements: D5 Life Extension 2 (D5LE2), Multi-Start Enhanced Pre-Launch (MEP), and Systems Engineering Modeling and Simulation. Trident II D5 Modernization (D5LE2): The Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) is the most survivable leg of the triad and foundational to the nation's deterrence strategy. The heart of the SLBM capability is the D5LE Strategic Weapon System (SWS) currently hosted aboard the OHIO platform throughout its remaining service life. The D5LE is also planned to be the initial SWS on the COLUMBIA platform but cannot support the platform throughout its predicted service life (through 2084) due to age, attrition, and obsolescence of critical components within the system. Aging components (such as flight electronics and guidance) fall below requirements as early as the late 2030s and non-aging components are reduced by flight tests and spares consumption and fall below requirements shortly thereafter. As the D5LE missile inventory cannot be extended further, the D5LE SWS will require a significant modernization - D5LE2 - which is required to support COLUMBIA missile inventory and loadouts. The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review identified the need for the nation's Strategic Systems to be more flexible and adaptable in the face of adversaries who are increasingly showing the ability to quickly deploy enhanced capabilities to the range of the existing system. Flexibility and adaptability will be required for the D5LE2 system in order to meet established STRATCOM requirements for the life of the COLUMBIA Class. The D5LE2 weapon system modernization and these attributes will not only address the COLUMBIA service life requirement by delivering the range and accuracy of the current system, but also address the threat of near peer adversaries' improved defensive capabilities to maintain a credible and survivable strategic deterrent. Meeting these new and evolving challenges will require that the D5LE2 architecture be designed so that it can address evolving threats in a timely manner. Being able to adapt at the speed of relevance will require an architecture which will be based on modular interfaces which enables flexibility and adaptability. Leveraging technologies inherent in modern designs will enable the system to be flexible and adaptable. The flexibility and adaptability inherent in modern avionics architecture will allow the program to meet its existing SWS requirements and remain credible, reliable, and survivable. D5LE2's schedule is directly analogous to the previous life extension's (D5LE) executed schedule which began concept studies in the late 1990s, began design in 2004, completed design in 2011, and deployed in 2017. D5LE2 encompasses significantly more scope than D5LE on a similar timeline. Funding is required in the early development phase of the program to enable technologies for D5LE2 in anticipation of long lead material procurements starting in 2030; therefore, significant technology investments must be made in 2022 to support execution of the program of record. To ensure that key technologies have reached appropriate maturation and been tested in a relevant environment prior to the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) in FY 2028, funding to improve Technology and Manufacturing Readiness Levels (TRL/MRL) by commodity is phased according to complexity. D5LE2 program is focused on maturation of key strategic technologies required to modernize the Navy's SWS. The technology investments are architecture agnostic (i.e. they must be developed regardless of the design of the architecture) and represent the fundamental building blocks for the SWS. The ability to rapidly mature these technologies represents the single greatest risk mitigation to the program. D5LE2 strategic modernization efforts will focus on critical high priority technologies such as: -Post Boost Control System (PBCS) Technologies utilizing high refractory metals -Next Generation Low - Size Weight and Power (SWaP) Guidance Instruments -Strategic Rad Hard Electronics -Advanced Battery Technologies -Resilient Cyber Security frameworks D5LE2 Technology Development targets replacements for legacy D5 and D5LE technologies now obsolete with manufacturing lines shutdown that are required regardless of architecture chosen (e.g. radiation hardened parts) and/or have long lead maturity and development timelines. Technology advancements and improved system architecture concepts will unlock existing system capability, and add flexibility/adaptability, manufacturability, SWS operations, and sustainability - while at the same time reconstituting an industrial base that has not directly benefited from S&T funding or performed SLBM development for decades. In order to support STRATCOM requirements without gapping capability, SSP began critical architecture agnostic technology maturation on key strategic technologies in FY 2020 and initiated studies to explore potential modern System Level Architectures. Congressional reductions in FY 2020 reduced scope to only those areas most critical to the System Concepts Baseline Refinement (SCR) on the critical path to System Requirements Review (SRR) in FY 2025. FY 2020 focused on filling requirements voids in the areas of threat effectiveness, cyber vulnerabilities, evaluating the SWS contribution to platform survivability, and developing the utility curves by which concepts will be evaluated. The FY 2020 reduction also limited technology development on certain key technologies. FY 2021 focused on the continuation of Systems Studies and Systems Architecture as the FY 2021 reduction limited development of strategic guidance and missile technologies. FY 2021 Systems Engineering efforts focused on key architecture defining decisions, the development of mission effectiveness and threat mitigation requirements, CONOPS development activities associated with system operations that would potentially lead to opportunities for affordability improvements, and the start of new activities to define core SWS architecture elements. FY 2021 builds on the work started in FY 2020 with key architecture decisions to enable the preliminary system architecture concept to be defined in FY 2022. The program utilized its remaining funding to concentrate on advanced technology development and maturation of critical SWS D5LE2 components in the areas of high refractory metal PBCS and Valve Assemblies, long stand time batteries, nuclear safe out-of-line blocking elements, large Missile Structures, and parts & shielding. FY 2021 Strategic Guidance efforts included the development of technologies and components for strategic sensors to support the next generation of inertial sensors, components and rad-hard electronics to address the need for higher performing lower SWaP solutions. The FY 2022 plans are based on historical timelines and execution for developing new technologies in this challenging environment to support the proposed D5LE2 and COLUMBIA schedules. FY 2022 efforts include preliminary functional and physical system architecture concept (to include lifecycle concepts and performance evaluation), evaluation and prototyping of materials to begin the down select of key critical components for technology maturation, fabrication and evaluation of SLBM and strategic guidance subsystem parts for advanced development and to support prototyping and radiation testing commencing in FY 2022. These key efforts are phased to support an iterative update to the D5LE2 concept baseline culminating in sufficiently refined system architecture and requirements to support an SRR in FY 2025. The FY 2025 SRR supports developing modernized commodities, requalifying pull-through commodities, iterative model maturation, integration, and ground testing with the first flight test in FY 2032. Completion of first flight test will lead to early production to support the loadout of an entire boat with qualified missiles in FY 2039. Multi Star Enhanced Pre-Launch: The Multi Star Enhanced Prelaunch (MEP) project delivers enhanced SWS resiliency by 1) leveraging the capability of the D5 Life Extension Guidance (Mk6 Mod1) to sight two stars vice one allowing for improved in-flight error correction and 2) updating interfaces to the Fire Control and Navigation subsystems enabling enhanced use of Navigation Sonar System (NSS) data for weapon system error control during Prelaunch. This capability reduces SWS reliance on Global Positioning System (GPS) and Bathymetry data which enables operation in environments where GPS is denied and improves SSBN security during patrol. This capability also has potential for future relief to the strict tolerance requirements of the strategic navigator on the current OHIO Class Submarines and the COLUMBIA class program. Systems Engineering Modeling and Simulation: The Systems Engineering Modeling and Simulation capability will consist of three elements: Model Based Design, SWS Integrated Modeling and Simulation/Common Architecture & Framework, and SWS Enhancement Ground Test. This effort will provide the capability to comprehensively evaluate and test the integrated SWS within representative operational environments, providing unprecedented visibility across the SWS and system performance characterization equivalent to flight testing. This capability will enable trade space analysis to identify technical margin, subsystem interactions, and lifecycle affordability opportunities to include other services and be able to identify the benefits and risks of commonality to the individual programs, requirements and CONOPs modifications that could facilitate commonality, potential common acquisition strategies between the services, and total life cycle cost implications.

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Document Type: Project
Publication Date: Oct 01, 2022
Source ID: 2228_0101221N_7_1319_PB_2022

Technical Applications Programs

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