Terrain-Modeling Methodology for Aircraft Encounters with Surface-to-Air Missiles.
Abstract
A method was developed to characterize entire terrain types in terms of their impact on the encounter between aircraft and surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. Two contrasting types of terrain analyzed: the moderately rugged terrain around Fulda, West Germany, and the North German Plain. Digitized terrain elevation data (DTED), developed by the Defense Mapping Agency, served as raw data. Twenty suitable SAM sites were sampled from each terrain areas. Four layers of data transformation were used to convert the DTED data for these sites into 49-cell terrain models. These terrain models consisted of probability distribution functions of masked and unmasked distances an aircraft would fly as it transmitted a SAM system's lethal zone at various altitude. A simulation then determined the number of completed engagements an aircraft would experience per nautical mile flown through a battle area in each terrain type. The simulation runs used five variables: aircraft altitude, aircraft airspeed, threat density, missile speed, and SAM system reaction time. A full factorial design analysis of variance was then used to determine what the significant factors were, and to explain how they interacted to define terrain effects on the aircraft-SAM system encounter.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA172449
Entities
People
- James R. Hamilton
- Ronald G. Johnson
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology