Hypersonic & Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) Prototyping

Abstract

HBTSS will demonstrate a resilient, flexible, and global capability to detect and track hypersonic threats and boosting conventional ballistic missiles. The fire-control quality tracking data will be handed off to the hypersonic weapons systems to allow long range engagement of the threat while enhanced tracking accuracy through missile burn out will provide the warfighting community increased capability in missile defense weapons systems engagement and higher accuracy impact predictions. The HBTSS priority is to maintain the pace of the development schedule to develop an operational capability to meet the urgent warfighter need to address rapidly developing threats. To meet this priority, HBTSS must use high technology readiness level components, take advantage of existing government capabilities to minimize development, use a management culture that does not slow down the pace of development, and use Other Transaction Authority (OTA) to minimize contracting cycle times. OTAs allow the Government to work with traditional, non-traditional, and new space businesses to identify innovative solutions. The HBTSS seeks to demonstrate the ability to meet requirements derived from United States Strategic Command Prioritized Capabilities List, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, and the Joint Requirements Oversight Council Capability Development Document for Missile Warning (MW)/Missile Defense (MD) Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR). HBTSS developed target detection algorithms and evaluated them in a Signal-chain Processing Demonstration, providing insight into the constellation architecture, communications approach, and preliminary command and control design aspects. These results informed the development of the HBTSS prototype demonstration space vehicles and demonstrated the ability to detect and track dim targets in a cluttered background along with the sensitivity necessary to support the hypersonic kill chain. Like other Missile Defense Agency space sensors, HBTSS is planned to integrate with the existing Joint OPIR Ground architecture for mission tasking and data distribution. This OPIR enterprise architecture will be integrated with the terrestrial Missile Defense System sensors to improve missile defense architecture capabilities. Following the successful demonstration of HBTSS capabilities, the responsibility for HBTSS operational fielding will be transferred to the US Space Force and the MDA will continue the development of the next-generation of space-based fire control sensors for missile defense.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2024
• Source ID: MD42_1206895C_4_0400_PB_2024

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering.
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Missile Defense Systems.

Technology Areas

• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Hypersonics
• Space
• Space - Space Objects