Enabling - Test

Abstract

In the Enabling Program's Test project, Systems Engineering and Integration drives Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) planning, execution, and post-test assessment, providing critical data to prove that missile defense works as designed. Modeling and Simulation (M&S) provides the tools and framework required to prepare for and execute ground and flight tests and perform post-test reconstructions. System Engineering and Integration (SE&I) Major Program Goals for the Integrated Master Test Plan (IMTP): - Develop BMDS Performance Assessment parameters - Identify the Critical Engagement Conditions and data required to develop the test campaigns that will demonstrate regional defense performance, and verify and assess the capability of each Phased Adaptive Approach (PAA) - Define the test objectives and assessment criteria via the Integrated Master Assessment Plan and Flight Test Strategic Plan for all System level test events to anchor M&S and address data collection requirements. - Develop, manage and use BMDS level Modeling and Simulation (M&S) to verify BMDS performance in system operational regions outside the live fire testing regions. During test integration and model validation, engineering studies and analyses enable the allocation of test requirements to individual test events, design of test architectures, definition of target requirements, and generation of appropriate scenarios for ground and flight tests, in order to collect the required model validation data. With the support of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E), SE&I works with the Service Operational Test Agencies (OTA) to incorporate operational test requirements to ensure the incremental capability being transferred to the Warfighter will be operationally effective, suitable, and survivable. SE&I leads test failure review boards, identifies shortfalls in data collection, and reallocates objectives to future test events as needed until all identified model validation data is collected. Reliability, Availability and Maintainability data collected through the Joint Reliability and Maintainability Evaluation Team (JRMET) and quarterly data scoring boards with the Elements is available to Warfighter commanders and increases the confidence levels in the predicted performance of the BMDS. SE&I documents abnormal system behavior observed during System-level tests and alerts MDA to issues with test article reliability. The Failure Reporting, Analysis, and Corrective Action System (FRACAS) provides a framework to investigate System test failures and anomalies and to identify solutions that will ultimately improve BMDS performance and reliability. SE&I identifies and coordinates test objectives and ensures BMDS requirements are being met by the BMD System under test. Systems Engineering plays a key role in Ballistic Missile Defense test design and development by defining, allocating to test events, and tracking Critical Engagement Conditions (CECs) and Empirical Measurement Events (EMEs), as documented in the Integrated Master Test Plan (IMTP). The CECs and EMEs include key test points allocated to test events to ensure that the design of the BMDS test includes data collection to show proper system operation; they also provide validation, verification, and assessment data for the digital models and simulations used to predict BMDS performance. These models and simulations, along with the rigorous test and verification process, will be used to demonstrate BMDS performance in areas where no live-fire-testing is performed and will directly support fielding decisions and BMDS deployed operations. SE&I supports System Pre-Mission predictions for system level flight tests using the test framework set up with the BMDS configuration for a particular flight test. This provides confidence readiness for Flight Test execution by predicting BMDS performance and exercising element interfaces. This work also ensures the flight test will collect the required data and the data management plan will support System and Element Post-Flight Reconstruction (SPFR) objectives. System Post-Flight Reconstruction uses a hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) and/or Digital Modeling and Simulation Environment to replicate the day of flight for the BMDS configuration, including the actual environmental conditions and target dynamics observed in the test. The results of this process increase confidence in the models and simulations by anchoring the results to the real world event, with emphasis on the CECs and EMEs. System and Element Post-Flight Reconstructions are used for validation (anchoring) of BMDS and Element models and simulations. The distinct capabilities of MDA`s Modeling and Simulation (M&S) systems and products provide the BMDS, the Warfighter, and the Operational Test Agency (OTA) with an evaluation capability for individual components and for the overall M&S system-of-systems. MDA validates and accredits system-level models and simulations by anchoring them to real-world events to support accurate and comprehensive assessments of the BMDS. Future M&S development activities will focus on the model and simulation frameworks, BMDS Element models, and core truth modeling (e.g., threat, phenomenology, lethality, and environment). The success of the missile defense program is enabled by quality M&S systems and products that help prove BMDS technologies work. In particular, MDA M&S System and Product testing is based on an integrated, comprehensive, and phased test program as outlined in MDA`s IMTP. Within the construct of the IMTP, MDA Element unique M&S systems, subsystems, and components are tested as part of their respective development and integration, a necessary precursor to conducting BMD System-level M&S testing (e.g., integrated ground test, performance/technical assessment venues). Resources for the planning, design, execution and management of this testing are provided in accordance with the BMDS Test Policy, as listed in the most current version of the IMTP.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2016
• Source ID: MT23_0603890C_4_0400_PB_2016

Tags

Fields of Study

• Engineering

Readers

• Aerospace Test and Evaluation
• Missile Defense Systems.