Advanced Technology
Abstract
The Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Technology portfolio develops technology to maximize effectiveness and minimize costs; explores and develops technology to counter future threats; leverages technology investments of other Department of Defense (DoD) organizations, industry, other government agencies and international partners. The Advanced Concepts & Performance Assessment focus area delivers an integrated test bed simulation and analysis capability to define technology focus areas, validate contractor technology solutions and models, and evaluate future BMDS architecture solutions. This capability enables identification and assessment of innovative technology contributions to Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) performance and facilitates the rapid exploration of potential solutions, presenting options and alternatives not otherwise achievable. The Advanced Concepts & Performance Assessment laboratory identifies algorithms, models, and mathematical relationships that, when combined in integrated simulations, characterize component/system key parameters and define performance expectations for all Advanced Technology programs. Products produced by the model-based engineering process directly inform BMDS architect and systems engineering activities enabling evaluation of a large range of candidate technology and development of well-defined system/component-level requirements. Discrimination Sensor Technology enhances discrimination through the development and demonstration of a wide range of sensor technology and techniques. The goals for enhanced discrimination are to improve the probability of engagement success for stressing threats, expand the Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) battle space, and increase the ability to negate larger raid sizes. System modeling indicates geographically and spectrally-diverse advanced sensors will improve global persistent tracking and the ability to discriminate by up to an order of magnitude. These improvements increase all weapon systems performance for regional and homeland defense. Discrimination Sensor Technology components are tested in the laboratory and then integrated into systems for test on the ground and in the air. Promising individual sensor technologies will be integrated into a discrimination sensor test bed and participate in stressing BMDS test environments to ensure only high benefit/cost effective technologies are developed. Discrimination Sensor Technology is applicable to all layers of the battle space, to include ground, maritime, high and very-high-altitude airborne and space basing. The Weapons Technology focus area contains advanced technology initiatives that support the design of the next-generation high energy laser, next-generation interceptor technology, and next-generation kill vehicle technology. This effort includes the directed energy collaboration with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office in a systems engineering based strategy for the research, development, test and evaluation of high energy laser technology. To transition to the next generation high power directed energy platform in a cost effective manner, MDA is pursuing two promising laser technologies in a competitive environment. These candidate laser systems offer a path to low cost, high efficiency, electrically-driven, compact, light-weight high energy lasers for multiple missile defense applications including discrimination and boost phase defense. MDA is pursuing the Diode Pumped Alkali Laser System and fiber combining laser technology based on their efficiency and scaling potential. A 200 kilowatt (kW) class flight qualifiable laser prototype will be built and tested based on the selected technology for Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) enhancement. A surrogate high altitude, low mach, long endurance platform will be instrumented to measure platform vibration and characterize high altitude atmospheric environment for laser propagation to inform the design and flight compatible packaging of the high powered laser payloads. The results will be used to validate key model assumptions concerning the environment for laser propagation to be used for airborne high powered directed energy concept definition, conceptual design and system development. The Weapons Technology focus area will also develop technology that enables more agile, higher velocity interceptors that leverage our discrimination technology advances to defeat greater raid sizes and increasingly complex threats. We will focus on developing the enabling technology necessary to make game-changing breakthroughs with our future interceptors. Advanced Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) enables rapid and exponential capability increases in our command, control, battle management and communications (C2BMC) and existing sensor networks. We will develop and mature technology, software and algorithms which facilitate integration of the Services command and sensor network approaches into the BMDS. The Advanced Research focus area develops new BMDS capability by leveraging industry and university research. This focus area also manages the selection process and administers the Missile Defense Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Element, 0605502C. In FY 2014, the Advanced Research focus area will conduct Advanced Technology Innovation Broad Agency Announcement (ATI BAA) solicitation for identifying potentially breakthrough research on missile defense related technology with private industry, qualified accredited educational institutions, and non profit organizations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2014
- Source ID
- MD25_0603175C_3_0400_PB_2014
Related Documents
- Root: Ballistic Missile Defense Technology
- Child Accomplishment: Enhanced Command, Control, Battle Management and Communication
- Child Accomplishment: Advanced Concepts & Performance Assessment
- Child Accomplishment: Discrimination Sensor Technology
- Child Accomplishment: Weapons Technology
- Child Accomplishment: Advanced Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
- Child Accomplishment: Advanced Research
- Child Accomplishment: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Support