MAY 2010 WALES, Ltd. AirBorne EO Sensor for BMD - 1/17 UNCLASSIFIED Approved for Public Release - 10-MDA-5450 (04 MAY 10) AIRBORNE ELECTRO-OPTICAL SENSORS

MAY 2010WALES, Ltd.AirBorne EO Sensor for BMD - 1/17

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIEDApproved for Public Release - 10-MDA-5450 (04 MAY 10)

AIRBORNE ELECTRO-OPTICAL SENSORS

FOR BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS,

MISSION AND TRADEOFF ANALYSIS

AIRBORNE ELECTRO-OPTICAL SENSORS

FOR BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS,

MISSION AND TRADEOFF ANALYSIS

Dr. Ehud Zamir

WALES, Ltd., Israel

1st Annual Israel Multinational BMD Conference & Exhibition


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PRESENTATION TOPICSPRESENTATION TOPICS

• Overview

• Sensor Suite Missions

• Typical Sensors

• Attributes of EO Sensors

• Conclusions and Summary

AIRBORNE EO SENSORS FOR BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE


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OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

• Ballistic Missile Defense Systems require a set of sensors

(sensors suite) for detection and tracking of the targets

• Data generated by the Sensor Suite prior to target’s

engagement is used for prediction of threat trajectories,

generation of sky picture, selection of targets, and generation

of defense (interception) plan

• Data generated by the Sensor

Suite is also critical for post

interception missions (e.g. kill

assessment)



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SENSOR SUITE MISSIONSSENSOR SUITE MISSIONS

• Sensor Suite missions can be summarized as:

– Detection and early warning

– Tracking and prediction of target’s trajectory

– Collect data for classification, discrimination, and identification of targets

– Support target selection

– Post intercept missions:

* Kill assessment

* Collecting data on threat targets (battlefield learning)



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TYPICAL SENSORS - TECHNICAL FEATURESTYPICAL SENSORS - TECHNICAL FEATURES

• Typically (due to difference in wavelength and size considerations) the accuracy of angular measurements by EO Sensors is much better than the accuracy of angular measurements by RF Sensors

• A passive EO Sensor can typically measure only azimuth and elevation of the target

• An active Sensor (both RF and EO) can typically measure azimuth, elevation, range, and/or range rate of the target



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SENSORS ATTRIBUTES - DETECTION AND EARLY WARNINGSENSORS ATTRIBUTES - DETECTION AND EARLY WARNING

• Requirement: – Detect all BM targets in the threat scenario as early as possible

• Space based EO sensors can detect BM in the boost phase and they have a very wide coverage. Early warning by GEO satellites is well established and proven

• Airborne EO sensors can detect BM in the boost (limited by sensor’s horizon) and post-boost phases of their flight

• Both airborne EO sensors and ground based RF sensors are limited by the horizon and detection range of the sensor



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SENSORS ATTRIBUTES - TRACKING AND TRAJECTORY PREDICTION

SENSORS ATTRIBUTES - TRACKING AND TRAJECTORY PREDICTION

• Requirements:

– Track BM targets and predict their trajectories, within the budgeted time, with the accuracy required for cueing of other sensors and/or planning of interception

– Have the capacity to track all BM targets in the threat scenario

• The accuracy of angular measurements by EO Sensors is much better than the accuracy of angular measurements by RF Sensors

• An active RF Sensor can measure azimuth and elevation, as well as range and range rate of the target



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SENSORS ATTRIBUTES - TRACKING ANDTRAJECTORY PREDICTION (Cont.)

SENSORS ATTRIBUTES - TRACKING ANDTRAJECTORY PREDICTION (Cont.)

• Trajectory prediction with single RF sensor will typically

converge faster than trajectory prediction with single

EO sensor

• Fusion of data from a combination of RF and EO

Sensors will result in faster convergence of the

trajectory

• An optimal mix of active RF and passive EO sensors

provides faster solution for interception plan, wider

battle-space, and more efficient utilization of the

tracking resources



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SENSORS ATTRIBUTES - CLASSIFICATION, DISCRIMINATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND TARGET SELECTION

SENSORS ATTRIBUTES - CLASSIFICATION, DISCRIMINATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND TARGET SELECTION

• Requirements:

– Collect data for classification and discrimination of objects in the

sky picture

– Identify the target in the environment of motor stages, PenAids,

and interception debris

• RF sensors can provide data on RCS and dynamics of objects

• Dual and triple bands EO sensors can collect data on IR

signature, surface temperature, and relative size of the objects

• Diversification of sensors, and wavelength bands, increases the

reliability of discrimination processes and the probability of

identification of targets among other objects in the sky picture



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SENSORS ATTRIBUTES - POST INTERCEPT MISSIONSSENSORS ATTRIBUTES - POST INTERCEPT MISSIONS

• Requirements. Collect data for:– Kill assessment– Identification of RV after “No-Kill” event– Debriefing and battlefield learning

• Kill Assessment is an essential tool in Ballistic Missile Defense architecture in order to achieve high level of defense (Pk) at affordable cost

• Interception blast can be detected, and categorized, by airborne visible sensor for few seconds after interception

• Post interception aerosol cloud can be detected by airborne IR sensor for few minutes (depending on altitude) after interception



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SENSORS ATTRIBUTES - DIVERSIFICATIONSENSORS ATTRIBUTES - DIVERSIFICATION

• Diversification of wavelength

bands in the Sensors Suite

provides for:

– Immunity to counter measures

– Increase the number of features

available for discrimination

– Increase the number of features available for discrimination and

post interception missions (KA)

– Increase reliability and system robustness

Visible

Radar

Infrared



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CONCLUSIONS AND SUMMARYCONCLUSIONS AND SUMMARY

• A mix of sensor types and wavelength bands is required

in order to optimize performance of the Sensor Suite

• Airborne EO sensor can detect targets below the horizon

of ground based RF sensor, resulting in earlier detection

• Fusion of track data from EO and RF sensors reduces

the required tracking time, and sensors load

• Data collected by EO sensor increases reliability of

discrimination and target selection processes



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CONCLUSIONS AND SUMMARY (Cont.)CONCLUSIONS AND SUMMARY (Cont.)

• Data collected by EO sensor increases reliability of post

interception mission (e.g. KA)

• Diversification of wavelengths bands provides better

immunity against counter-measures

• Diversification of wavelengths bands increases system

reliability and robustness

Airborne EO Sensors can be highly effective and beneficial in

any Ballistic Missile Defense architecture

Airborne EO Sensors can be highly effective and beneficial in

any Ballistic Missile Defense architecture



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Documents

MAY 2010 WALES, Ltd. AirBorne EO Sensor for BMD - 1/17 UNCLASSIFIED Approved for Public Release - 10-MDA-5450 (04 MAY 10) AIRBORNE ELECTRO-OPTICAL SENSORS