Sentinel

Abstract

Mission & System Description: This system is a component of the overall Air and Missile Defense (AMD) architecture and will provide for an incrementally fielded Integrated Air and Missile Defense Fire Control System/capability for the composite Army Air and Missile Defense Brigades. The Sentinel system is a key component of the Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense (AIAMD) architecture and provides critical air surveillance of the forward areas. Sentinel (AN/MPQ-64A3) consists of a radar-based sensor with its prime mover/power, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), and Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD) Command, Control and Intelligence (C2I) interfaces. The radar is deployed in both an air defense role and a force protection role for Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) missions. The sensor is an advanced three-dimensional battlefield X-Band air defense phased-array radar with an instrumented range of 75 kilometers. Sentinel is capable of operating day or night, in adverse weather conditions, in the battlefield environments of dust, smoke, aerosols and enemy countermeasures. It provides 360-degree azimuth coverage for acquisition tracking. Sentinel contributes to the digital battlefield by automatically detecting, classifying, identifying and reporting targets (cruise missiles, unmanned aircraft systems, rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft). Sentinel acquires targets sufficiently forward of the battle area to allow weapons reaction time and engagement at optimum ranges. Sentinel's integrated IFF reduces the potential for fratricide of US and Coalition aircraft. The Research and Development funding supports Sentinel modernization/upgrades, hardware/software issue resolution, resolution of obsolescence issues, engineering studies, and cost reduction initiatives. The funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 through FY 2024 development activities addresses the following Sentinel system capability gaps and obsolescence issues identified by the User: 1) Target Detection gap; 2) Target Tracking gap; 3) Net Readiness gap; 4) Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) gap; 5) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Defense gap; and 5) Rockets, Artillery & Mortars (RAM) gap. FY 2020 Funds address the following: Electronic Attack/Electronic Protect (EA/EP) addresses the electronic countermeasures (ECM) gap. This effort continues through the life of the radar, addressing both changing threats and electronic counter measure gaps. The Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) (Sentinel A4) is the next generation of radar technology to replace the current phase and frequency scanned array used by Sentinel today. The AESA Antenna will provide increased capability including extended range for ground-based surveillance and situational awareness, faster and more accurate Non-Cooperative Target Recognition (NCTR) for clearing fires and preventing fratricide, improved Fire Control (FC) quality track accuracy, and management of larger track loads. The AESA will also provide improved operation in severe/urban clutter. The system will detect and track small targets, such as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Cruise Missiles, in clutter and will detect and track slow targets, such as UAS and Rotary Wing (RW) aircraft, at low altitudes in clutter. The system will detect, track, and classify Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (RAM) threats and will support Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) requirements and can contribute sensor support for mitigating current and future Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 mission requirements. Mode S upgrade to existing Sentinel Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) will address Sentinel's objective requirement to interrogate IFF mode S which is currently not being met. Mode S transmissions are a key component of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) surveillance technology being used by the Federal Aviation Administration for tracking aircraft as part of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). In the United States, all aircraft required to have transponders (most aircraft) must transition to Mode S capable units by 2020. Without the Mode S upgrade, Sentinel will have to rely on these aircraft transponders responding to the legacy mode 3/A interrogations. The data available in the Mode S response will be valuable in identifying the aircraft and correlating Sentinel tracks with civil aviation tracks/data and other track data sources. Addresses the M Code Global Positioning System (GPS) capability requirement with the new interrogator. Resiliency and Software Assurance Modification (RSAM) upgrade to counter emerging threats and provide the Operational Commander Assured Position Navigation and Timing capabilities. Sentinel SW will be updated to accept new RSAM messages and provide RSAM status to the Radar operator. Counter Rocket, Artillery & Mortars (C-RAM) capability increase to current Sentinel A3's effectiveness against the Low, Slow, Small (LSS) and RAM threat. This effort develops and implements advanced waveforms and processing to significantly enhance RAM capabilities. These efforts will provide fire control quality data to support RAM interceptors. Additional Development: Signal Data Processor (SDP)/North Finding Module (NFM) addresses the Target Detection, Target Tracking, and Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) capability gaps and funds the mitigation of the SDP and NFM obsolescence issues. SDP cards are estimated to go obsolete every four to six years. Provides for new SDP kit to address obsolescence issues and allow for additional Electronic Protect capability. Medium Bandwidth Waveform upgrade will address latent tracking issues that currently exist with Sentinel in certain applications. This development effort modifies firmware as well as software in the Sentinel radar. This effort will provide better target resolution and more accurate tracking in the slant range coordinate. This improved target resolution and tracking accuracy will provide improved retention of target identification and more robust tracking that addresses the latent tracking issues. Sentinel System of Systems: Software Development in support of a system of systems architecture (IAMD and IFPC Inc 2-I) for a required simulation capability. The simulation capability will add a high fidelity representation of Sentinel to IAMD to allow for optimum engagement management and mission planning. Supports Sentinel Digital Simulation Software (SDS/SENTSIM) development efforts for testing of future capabilities. Includes software development for Low Slow Small in a test fix test environment as well as integration and testing of the IAMD B kit on board the Sentinel FMTV platform. Adjunct sensor technology effort will integrate and test a supplemental technology for the Sentinel A3 radar to detect and identify current and emerging threats. Adjunct sensor technology compliments current radar capabilities to improve system performance and reduces adversaries countermeasure abilities by improving system electronic protect capabilities.

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Document Type: Project
Publication Date: Oct 01, 2020
Source ID: E10_0604820A_5_2040_PB_2020

Sentinel

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