Target Systems Development

Abstract

Full-scale Aerial Targets, Subscale Aerial Targets, and companion Target Control Systems (TCS) assure the effectiveness and currency of warfighter weapon systems to combat real-world enemy fighters and cruise missiles. The BQM-167A Air Force Subscale Aerial Target (AFSAT) is a reusable jet-powered target aircraft measuring approximately 20 feet long with a mission to simulate threat aircraft for testing and evaluation of surface-to-air, ship-to-air, or air-to-air missiles. The target accomplishes this mission through the use of optional payloads including chaff and flare, electronic attack, and infrared devices. Funding supports continued improvement of overall performance enhancement efforts. Funding supports development, improvements, and updates of target control systems and specialized target payload subsystems for requirements to include but not limited to missile scoring, electronic attack and infrared (IR) countermeasures, radar and IR signature augmentation, and chaff and flare dispensing systems. Electronic Attack (EA) payload upgrade provides new techniques and capabilities critical to subscales and full-scales to realistically emulate current and emerging foreign threat systems in support of weapons testing. TCS provides a myriad of sub-systems that, together, deliver the capability to control and track mission aerial targets (full-scale and subscale) and to track a mix of other critical mission participants (to include relay platforms, shooters, and the missile system under test). In this role, TCS ensures an optimum integrated aerial target environment that enhances both weapon system assessments and companion aircrew skills, and the full safety of mission participants throughout the conduct and fulfillment of T&E objectives. Funding supports continued improvement (modernization) of TCS capabilities to effectively meet the multi-service test and evaluation (T&E) demands of current and future warfighter weapon systems.

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Document Details

Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2020
Source ID
675136_0305116F_7_3600_PB_2020

Tags

Readers

  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics

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