Flight Demonstration of the AltAir Air Deployed Ballistic Missile Target,
Abstract
Theater Missile Defense (TMD) testing identified the need for a new type of TMD target system. The system must provide intercept geometries which are difficult to achieve with current ground launch systems. The government undertook the development of the Alternate Air launched short range target (AltAir) to demonstrate the feasibility of meeting these requirements with an air-launched system. The objective of this effort was to develop a target system which could be integrated at conventional range facilities, loaded into an unmodified cargo aircraft, flown to a remote location for extraction from the aircraft and launched. The AltAir program developed the following target system elements: the AltAir target vehicle with its GPS aided guidance system; a Palletized Airborne Support Equipment (PASE) module, and associated ground support equipment. The range processing and operating procedures required to integrate. transport and launch the AltAir vehicle were developed by the Navy and Air Force units supporting the program. Five airborne tests of the AltAir target system elements were performed culminating in the AltAir Demonstration Flight. The AltAir Demonstration Flight occurred on 30 January 1997 on the Sea Test Range at the Naval Air Warfare Center - Weapons Division, off the coast of California.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 18, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA329032
Entities
People
- F. Shanta
- J. Bridges
- J. Mentek
- Jenna Snyder
Organizations
- National Air and Space Intelligence Center