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 AMD 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 A3 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 United States and Coalition aircraft. The Sentinel A4 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) is the next generation of radar technology to replace the current phase and frequency scanned array used by Sentinel today. Sentinel A4 hardware and software upgrades will extend the range for ground-based surveillance and situational awareness; will have faster and more accurate Non-Cooperative Target Recognition (NCTR) for clearing fires and preventing fratricide; will improve track accuracy, and management of larger track loads; and improve operation in severe/urban clutter. The system will provide simultaneous multi-mission capability and provides hemispherical surveillance to 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 aircraft, at low altitudes in clutter. The system will detect, track, and classify RAM threats and will support AIAMD and Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) requirements with Fire Control quality tracks. Sentinel A4 will incorporate the upgraded AN//TPX-61 IFF with M-Code capability added by replacing the GB-Gram card with M-Code GB-Gram cards. The Research and Development funding supports Sentinel modernization/upgrades to address obsolescence issues and capabilities gaps. Sentinel A4 modernization efforts will increase detection, recognition and identification range by 100%, add RAM detection, increase electronic protect and allow for system capability growth through Fiscal Year (FY) 2050 to address evolving threat. FY 2022 Funds address the following: The 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 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 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 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. FY 2022 funding supports the build of five user operational evaluation systems which will allow for soldier feedback prior to Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP). These systems will also allow the AESA technology to be used to support engagements for emerging technologies. The Sentinel A4 will incorporate Mode S technologies. 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.

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Document Details

Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2022
Source ID
E10_0604820A_5_2040_PB_2022

Tags

Readers

  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs
  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems

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