Test & Evaluation Capability Development

Abstract

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Test and Evaluation (T&E) program has six primary purposes: 1) collect data to demonstrate and assess the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS); 2) collect data to demonstrate and assess the block capability; 3) identify areas where technology can increase system performance; 4) identify BMDS issues; 5) provide anchoring and validation data for modeling and simulation (M&S) tools; and 6) support early, partial, and full capability readiness decisions. The BMDS developmental and operational test program encompasses all T&E activities associated with technology developments, demonstrations, experiments, research, deployment, and maintenance activities. The T&E program describes test methods and approaches that the Directorate for Test uses to test element capabilities to meet the system-necessary capabilities delineated in the System Specification Documents and Interface Design Documents. The MDA T&E program provides test data to support assessments used to document and determine BMDS effectiveness. T&E Capability Development funding supports detailed planning and execution of flight test events plus test analysis and reporting functions: Capability development provides funding for efforts which address technologies, functionalities and capabilities not mature enough for fielding under the Block Construct, are experimental in nature or do not support one of the five blocks. The Directorate for Test supports the developmental and integration efforts through test and assessment of Critical Engagement Conditions (CECs) and Empirical Measurement Events (EMEs) to anchor M&S. Funding provides manpower, range and logistics support for system Flight Test (FT) planning, integration, execution, data collection, and analysis and range and auxiliary sensor support. Funding supports overlaying system-level objectives onto element flight tests (FTs) where appropriate and non-element specific testing. Funding also support BMDS Flight Test Targets of Opportunity (TOO) and experimental flight tests to support Capability Development. BMD System Flight Tests (FTs): Capability Development programs such as STSS, ABL, Arrow, KEI, etc. examine the capability of the BMDS to detect, track, and engage targets. More advanced tests are planned that will provide data to support verification of more complex CECs and EMEs. These projects will provide analysis of each system test event through the Joint Analysis Team (JAT). BMDS Flight Tests related to Capability Development include but are not limited to: Emerging Technologies: programs that develop technologies and test future capabilities; including programs such as STSS and ABL. Other programs that complement the BMDS such as Patriot are included. Certain technologies in early development and potential future capabilities such as Next Generation Sensor Producibility (NGSP) and Near Field Infrared Experiment (NFIRE) are tested in this program. Targets of Opportunity (TOO)s: Events (e.g., Minuteman FT, Air Force Space Command operations, or approved foreign launches) that afford the opportunity to exercise some portion of BMDS, conduct on-board and off-board experiments, and gather phenomenology data on representative objects and events. These events are categorized as domestic, foreign co-operative, or non-cooperative tests. TOOs support risk reduction through early identification of integration issues. Specifically, TOOs provide a cost-effective means of exercising and collecting data on component interfaces in real-time; exercising communication links and connectivity, real-time element loading, timing, cueing, tracking capabilities, algorithm development, and test checklists for the Integrated Test Team. Critical Measurements and Counter Measures (CMCM) FTs: Events that provide a venue for risk reduction, addressing phenomenology (understanding the physics of what was observed and its effects on BMDS sensors), countermeasures and counter-countermeasures requirements, providing critical measurements to support development and validation of algorithms, M&S, discrimination, and new technology demonstrations. CMCM FTs augment various MDA and Elements test programs and ensure a coherent, complete, cost effective, and disciplined approach to collecting data/measurements to support characterization of the BMDS mission space (i.e., provide an understanding of how the BMDS visible, infrared and radar sensors perform when observing ballistic missile targets and countermeasures during flight). Engineering Test Analysis (formerly part of the CTF) conducts system level analysis for all BMD system flight and ground test events and reports the results to MDA Leadership and the BMDS Community. Analysis is performed and reported using the Joint Analysis Team (JAT) process where system analysts and analysts from each participating element work together to plan analysis requirements and analyze test results. Comprehensive joint analysis produces cohesive system-level analysis, reduces flight test risk, and identifies operational capabilities and limitations through the use of standardized processes, tools, and products across all test venues. This analysis enables MDA Leadership to make capability delivery declarations to support Warfighter requirements. Target certification assures that a target recommended for certification meets the mission and test objectives with the target characteristics identified for that test event. The Target Accreditation Report, the basis for certification, compares the target`s capabilities against the capabilities required by the BMDS Target Requirements Document and the test event described in the IMTP (Integrated Master Test Plan). The WX04 budget project also includes Modeling and Simulation efforts as detailed below. The mission of the Modeling and Simulation (M&S) program is to engineer and deliver validated, integrated simulation solutions for the primary uses of Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) Performance Assessment and Ground Test, with additional capability to support BMDS-Element integration, missile defense Wargames and exercises (national and international), BMDS training, and BMDS concept analysis. In this role, M&S provides cost-effective and proactive tools to assess the fielded capabilities of the BMDS, analyze and foster accelerated integration of Element and component capability into the BMDS, and is a valuable training and planning tool for Warfighting Concept of Operations and missile defense planning. BMDS Digital Modeling and Simulation: BMDS Digital Modeling and Simulation produces and integrates digital M&S assets for use with the Digital Simulation Architecture to form system-level constructive simulations for full-envelope BMDS performance assessment with surrogate capability for BMDS ground tests. Digital M&S creates system-level stimulus for Element integration testing and system-level M&S capabilities which augment BMDS flight tests. Other mission areas include digital M&S capability for system-level concept definition and exploration; real-time, interactive system-level M&S capability to support Warfighter-in-the-loop Wargaming, training and exercises, and capabilities to support rapid, flexible scenario development and execution control. Verification, Validation, and Accreditation (VV&A): Accredited system-level models and simulations (M&S) anchored to real-world events, are required to perform an accurate and comprehensive assessment of the BMDS. The implementation and documentation system-level M&S verification, validation, and accreditation will establish credibility and increase confidence in the M&S that provides a cornerstone for the Agency`s simulation-based acquisition approach. The individual MDA elements and components are responsible for conducting the VV&A of their own models and providing that evidence to system-level VV&A for each event. This includes benchmarking their M&S to higher fidelity simulations, anchoring to real world events, and planning and conducting post-flight reconstruction. Verifying, validating and, accrediting multiple MDA events to include Performance Assessment, Ground Tests which supports BMDS fielding decisions, and tier one Combatant Commanders (COCOM) exercises will be performed. Development and promulgation of system-level VV&A policies and standards, benchmarked against leading industry practices will be assessed. Providing model, simulation, and event credibility across Performance Assessment, Ground Tests, Element Integration, Wargames and Exercises, Training, will be conducted and all associated infrastructure that supports BMDS fielding decisions. Through the consistent practice of verifying model representations benchmarked to other higher-fidelity models, and anchored to operational tests, increase model confidence and acceptability by outside agencies like the Operational Test Agency will be achieved. The implementation of the Model-Test-Model process requires close collaboration with the test community, and the capability to predict system-level test results and perform post-flight test reconstruction in order to improve model confidence and future performance. Robust VV&A requires flexibility and capability to explore new BMDS concepts, and evaluate new Element representations to identify and correct flaws early in the development process. BMDS HWIL Modeling and Simulation: BMDS HWIL Modeling and Simulation is responsible to provide and integrate the BMDS system-level HWIL stimulation framework to support full-envelope BMDS ground test, flight test, and training events based upon Agency and warfighter needs. BMDS HWIL provides development, integration, and test funding to both MDA and non-MDA Elements participating in the BMDS ground test campaigns. BMDS HWIL also provides the core Lethality and Phenomenology models for use in analysis of BMDS and Element mission requirements.

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Document Type: Project
Publication Date: Oct 01, 2011
Source ID: WX04_0603888C_4_0400_PB_2011

Test & Evaluation Capability Development

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