Airborne Infrared (ABIR)
Abstract
Tracking enemy ballistic missile raids with airborne sensors forward in the theater closes the gap between the enemy`s launch and our first track. Depending on the range of the threat, this could increase our battle space by hundreds of seconds and give us the ability to shoot, look, then shoot again. This significantly improves the probability that our Ballistic Missile Defense System will successfully engage the threat and defeat it. In FY 2010 we took the first steps in exploring this nascent capability. In October, we began assessing platform and sensor alternatives with MIT`s Lincoln Laboratory and our partners at the Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Organization. This effort will point the way to the vehicle most suited to fill this role among a group of candidates including the currently deployed MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-4 Global Hawk. At the same time, we`re engaging with Joint Forces Command and the Combatant Commanders (COCOM)to develop a concept of operations for adding this mission to the Nation`s unmanned aerial systems fleet. Armed with the results of the alternatives assessment, we will work with industry, the Combatant Commanders and the services to modify and test the chosen platform and sensor combination. Meanwhile we`re executing an experimental plan that leverages existing platforms and sensors through a series of knowledge points targeted at proving the capability. These knowledge points include proving sensor performance, target auto tracking, raid handling capacity, secure communications and system Quality of Service (QoS) (that is, data of sufficient accuracy and low enough latency) to enable Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC) and BMDS interceptors to complete ballistic missile engagements. Our development and test plan progresses from computer-in-the-loop to hardware-in-the-loop experiments to incrementally verify and validate functionality. These experiments culminate in Aegis intercept flight tests using primarily airborne sensors for fire control at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii in the summer of 2012. This testing, interspersed with regular campaigns in theater, lead to an operationally useful architecture as early as 2015. Goals for Airborne Infrared Sensor program Develop and test prototypes that integrate with the operational layers of the BMDS to provide precise early missile track information with a sufficient Quality of Service of Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC) and sensor data for engaging theater, regional, and strategic threats. Prove the ability of airborne sensors to execute early intercept of regional ballistic missiles. Deliver knowledge to enable acquisition decisions to procure and field an operational system. We will employ Knowledge Points to execute our airborne sensors development and test plan that leverages existing platform and sensor systems resulting in an experimental capability in FY 2012 and an operational capability in FY 2015. Knowledge Points Verify sensor field of view. Verify sensor performance. Verify sensor auto tracking capability. Verify 3-D tracking performance. Assess raid handling capability. Verify track quality. Launch interceptor on Airborne Infrared sensor tracks.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2011
- Source ID
- MD67_0604884C_4_0400_PB_2011
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