Joint Electronic Advanced Technology
Abstract
(U) The widespread and growing availability of sophisticated, commercially available electronic sensors, computer modules, navigation and control components coupled with widely proliferated Man Portable Air Defense Systems (ManPADS), portable explosives, mortars, rockets and small aircraft provide terrorists and foreign military units with the novel means to rapidly construct a wide range of weapons capable of disruptive actions against military forces. In Overseas Contingency Operations, the United States (U.S.) must be ready to counter such weapons on short notice. The asymmetric nature of such devices is already well understood by terrorists. Improvised explosive devices are in widespread use. ManPADS, man portable weapons and mortars have been used to attack both air and ground forces, and pose a threat to any region due to their portability. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) capable of short range operations involving chemical, biological or explosive payloads can be found routinely available through commercial purchase and are easily adaptable to conduct precision attacks for terror purposes using commercial radio control systems. Civil navigation and autopilot devices capable of precisely controlling UAVs can be held in the palm of the hand. Digital processors, analog-to-digital converters and digital optical sensors give terrorists the means to deploy unexpected threats on short notice. Because conventional kinetic defenses against these devices can be impractical in urban settings and because the speed of appearance of such devices can be short, such threats are disruptive and asymmetric in comparison with the typical long development cycles associated with U.S. military defensive systems. These asymmetries highlight the need to rapidly evolve alternative Electronic Warfare, Information Operations and Counter Terrorism capabilities suitable for neutralizing such threats. This program element will investigate novel means to detect and neutralize these asymmetric threats, as well as special mission and other methods to employ asymmetric principles against our adversaries. (U) This program element seeks to identify rapidly deployable solutions (outside of service programs of record) that can effectively mitigate asymmetric threats by integrating advanced commercial or military off-the-shelf technology in innovative ways that augment and/or reduce risk when inserted into service programs of record. Laboratory and field testing will be used to evaluate the feasibility and military utility of resultant low cost, near term capabilities. FY 2011 efforts will investigate, integrate, test and demonstrate elements of the following technologies: 1. Ground based counter ManPADS concepts and systems that provide area protection in the vicinity of military airports, expeditionary airfields, forward operating bases, forward area refueling points or other high value locations. A real time distributed ground based missile warning system will be evaluated at a major urban airport to collect clutter data and verify performance enhancements developed in FY 2009 and FY 2010. This missile warning system is being initially integrated via data link to countermeasure equipped helicopters, with further application to fixed wing countermeasures equipped aircraft. Potentially viable ground based countermeasures concepts will be evaluated and tested to assess developmental risk. Subsequent efforts will assess integration of ground based missile warning/tracking systems with future ManPADS countermeasures systems. 2. Low cost, near term technologies to allow Department of Defense aircraft to fly in medium to high Man Portable Air Defense Systems (ManPADS) threat airspace in support of Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO). Emphasis is on threats, aircraft and system approaches not covered by existing programs of record; including innovative active missile warning, advanced kinetic decoys, miniature high reliability lasers, ultra-short pulsed lasers, magnetically steered high reliability pointer-trackers, higher powered and higher duty cycle lasers, data linked mutual warning and countermeasures, and preemptive countermeasures systems. Initial tasks leading to a rapid technology transition will be completed. 3. Emerging commercially derived technologies; including rapid prototyping of those required to combat adaptive threats in the OCO including, small unmanned aerial vehicle detection and engagement by kinetic and non-kinetic means. Emphasis will be on demonstrating an end-to-end kill chain and techniques which minimize or eliminate collateral damage. New efforts starting in FY 2010 and FY 2011 will include novel techniques to detect and locate the signatures of terrorist activities using electronic means, as well as conducting counter-terrorism experiments to evaluate the maturity of and transition special mission projects to theater.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2011
- Source ID
- P619_0603618D8Z_3_0400_PB_2011
Related Documents
- Root: Joint Electronic Advanced Technology
- Child Accomplishment: Ground Based Counter-Man Portable Air Defense Systems
- Child Accomplishment: Low Cost/Near Term Counter-Man Portable Air Defense Systems
- Child Accomplishment: Disruptive Technology Defeat and Utilization