Test & Evaluation Block 1.0

Abstract

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Test and Evaluation (T&E) program has six primary purposes: 1) demonstrate and assess Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS); 2) demonstrate and assess Block capability; 3) identify areas where technology can increase overall system performance; 4) identify BMDS issues; 5) provide anchoring and validation data for modeling and simulation (M&S) tools; and 6) support early, partial, and full capability readiness decisions. The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) recently initiated a systematic review of BMDS testing that will establish a new convention for setting test objectives that go beyond simply exercising newly delivered elements of the system. The BMDS Test Program in MDA is transitioning from ``architecture-based`` test objectives to ``technical parameter-based`` objectives to anchor models and simulations (M&S). The BMDS performance evaluation strategy is to develop models and simulations of the BMDS and compare their predictions to empirical data collected through comprehensive flight and ground testing to validate their accuracy, rather than physically testing all combinations of BMDS configurations, engagement. The BMDS test program: (1) encompasses activities associated with technology developments, demonstrations, experiments, research, deployment, and maintenance activities, (2) describes test methods and approaches the Directorate for Test (DT) uses to test element capabilities to meet the system capabilities delineated in the System Specification Documents and Interface Design Documents, and (3) provides test data to support assessments to document and determine BMDS effectiveness. BMDS testing addresses system wide test objectives, Critical Engagement Conditions (CECs) and Empirical Measurement Events (EMEs) to anchor M&S test environments, testing methodologies (i.e., M&S, Flight Test (FT), Ground Test (GT)), and identifies test resources (e.g., Test Bed, M&S tools, targets, ranges) required to provide test data that when combined with analysis of data from multiple sources, contribute to verification of the BMDS capability. Block 1.0 defends the U.S. from Limited North Korean long range threat. The integrated GTs and FTs are planned to provide the necessary data to demonstrate capability deliveries and BMDS capabilities. Block 1.0 is Ground-Based Midcourse Defense centric, focusing on integrating sensors, C2BMC, and other Elements. Sufficient data should be collected to ensure completion of the BMDS Block 1.0 test program in FY09.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2011
• Source ID: AX04_0603888C_4_0400_PB_2011

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Test and Evaluation
• Computational Modeling and Simulation
• Missile Defense Systems.