Hercules Capability Development

Abstract

Our submission reflects a greater emphasis on defense of U.S. forces, allies, and friends from regional threats posed by thousands of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. The most cost-effective missile defense architecture is one that emphasizes early intercepts during a threat missile`s early phase of flight. Early intercepts can be observed by the BMDS sensors to determine if a second or third intercept attempt is necessary to achieve a robust degree of protection. Additionally, early intercepts forces the threat to deploy countermeasures early, making them more difficult to be effective. MDA plans to demonstrate the maturity of early intercept concept by conducting a series of live-fire tests in FY 2012 to enable thorough operational assessment and proof of sufficient Quality of Service for this capability. These demonstrations will prove the early intercept concept key functions: Overhead persistent infrared for initial tracking in flight, unmanned aerial vehicle or Space Tracking and Surveillance System demonstration satellites for post-boost tracking, the battle management command and control, and Standard Missile-3 Block IA/B for engagements. The emphasis of Hercules will be to develop algorithms and software in the context of persistent sensor coverage, pervasive weapons coverage, global battle management, effective targeting, and effectiveness in advance environments for Strategic Technology Portfolios (STP) and early intercept capability demonstration managed by MDA`s Advanced Technology Directorate. Hercules develops robust, physics-based detection, tracking, discrimination, and decision making prototype algorithms to improve the performance of command and control, battle management, communications, sensor, and weapon components. These algorithms and software are critical in keeping pace with the evolving threat.

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Document Details

Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2011
Source ID
WX02_0603897C_4_0400_PB_2011

Tags

Readers

  • Adaptive Control and Estimation with Uncertainty in Dynamic Systems.
  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • Missile Defense Systems.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs
  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
  • Space
  • Space - Satellites
  • Space - Space Objects

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