III.Q.02—Theater Laser Communications.  Develop and demonstrate critical technologies required for a theater laser communications network. This activity will transition technologies developed under BMDO, OGAs, and industry to meet tactical Army applications. Technologies provide a high bandwidth data rate (overhead and ground) sensor capability while reducing size, weight, power, and cost. Potential applications are directed to airborne reconnaissance missions using a layered architecture involving satellites, manned and unmanned aircraft, aerostatic vehicles, and portable/fixed ground terminals. In FY96, a study was conducted to assess the viability of laser communication technology for space–to–ground applications. The study revealed that a layered architecture consisting of satellite–to–air–to–ground platforms provided high link availability through most weather conditions, especially for those missions with increased response time requirements. In FY97; 1) conduct an air–to–ground proof of concept demonstration using the Airborne Surveillance Testbed and existing BMDO lasercom terminals to transmit high bandwidth data (1.2 gbps), and 2) design and obtain necessary hardware to begin development of a portable demonstration ground terminal. In FY98, demonstrate the space–to–ground link using BMDO satellite (STRV–2) platform and a portable ground terminal. In FY99,demonstrate a joint satellite–to–air–to–ground technology and transition to Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below Tactical Internet; integrate into Space and Missile Defense Battle Lab and Battle Command Battle Lab for evaluation and requirement generation.

Supports: Battle Command Battle Lab and Space and Missile Defense Battle Lab.

III.Q.03—Laser Boresight Calibration.  The laser calibrator will provide a known ground registration point for space based sensors resulting in an improved impact area and launch point prediction for Theater Ballistic Missiles (TBM). It will reduce command and control time lines and improve the overall responsiveness of Joint Precision Strike and Theater Missile Defense forces. This capability will be integrated into the Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) P31. By FY97 demonstrate improved near real time determination of TBM launch point and trajectory parameters by using a compact, in–theater, tunable laser calibration system for space based Defense Support Program satellite sensors. The improved line–of–sight target accuracy will result in higher quality missile warning, alerting, and cueing information. The theater ballistic missile search box to detect launch systems is significantly reduced. This capability will be extensively field tested with the theater warfighter in FY96–97 and will be transitioned to JTAGS P31 in FY98.

Supports: Joint Precision Strike ATD, Theater Missile Defense AWE, Depth and Simultaneous Attack Battlelab, Dismounted Battle Space Battlelab, Mounted Battlespace Battlelab, PM–JTAGS, PM–Army Tactical Missiles, CINCSPACE.

III.Q.04—Battlefield Ordnance Awareness (BOA).  Battlefield Ordnance Awareness (BOA). Objective is to demonstrate a near real time ordnance reporting system using on board processing with space sensors. This technology will provide near real time battlefield visualization of friendly and enemy ordnance fires, and cruise missile launches. It addresses the need to target ordnance delivery for counterfire purposes, a major battlefield deficiency. While systems exist to locate and tract vehicle traffic and radio frequency transmitters for intelligence preparation of the battlefield, no system currently exists that reports type, time and sightings of either red or blue ordnance. The BOA capability will identify the ordnance by type and provide position information for counter fire opportunities, as well as Battle Damage Assessment, blue forces ordnance inventory, information for dispatch of logistical and medical support, and search and rescue. It also has the potential to type classify launch systems using the time domain intensity information in specific spectral bands. Advanced processor technology will be used with state of the art staring focal plane arrays to provide critical information to battlefield commanders. By FY97, acquire ordnance data by type and develop algorithms for near real time processing. By FY98, demonstrate near real–time processing of the ordnance data. In FY99, develop a space qualifiable BOA sensor design with state of the art near real time, onboard processing. Integrate BOA sensor and NRT processor by FY00. In FY01, qualify the BOA sensor and demonstrate airborne ordnance collection. Demonstrate NRT Airborne ordnance reporting by the end of FY02. Transition to the Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office (DARO) and Army PEO–Field Artillery Systems.

Supports: USCENTCOM, USEUCOM, Depth and Simultaneous Attack Battle Lab, Intel Center, and PEO Field Artillery Systems.

III.Q.05—Overhead Sensor Technology for Battlefield Characterization.  Develop and demonstrate advanced overhead sensor technologies for wide area battlefield force detection, discrimination, and target identification in near real time and reduce platform data communications downlink and ground processing Army requirements. Technologies focus on passive optical sensor using spectral, polarimetric, and on focal plane array (FPA) requirements. Initial sensor is baselined for UAV testing and applications. Final sensor configuration will be integrated onto the USAF Mighty–Sat platform to be manifested in DoD Tri–Service Space Test Program. This provides opportunities for the Army to define operational and technical requirements for next generation optical space sensors and associated ground processing capabilities in support of the Army warfighting goals. Sensor bands in the 0.4–2.5, 3–5, and 8–12 micron regions with hyperspectral output will be investigated. Specific technologies exploited include approaches to improve area coverage, on FPA signal processing techniques to exploit spectral/polarimetric signatures to achieve high performance autocueing, hyperspectral, spatial and temporal signature processing, and wide field of view imagery. These sensor technologies will provide wide area coverage of the battlefield, robust detection and targeting data while remaining within current Army C⁴I data rates. By FY99 baseline sensor packaging and configuration for UAV and space application and initial demonstration of on–FPA processing of spectral data. By FY00 demonstrate a hyperspectral sensor with smart focal plane processing in the 1–2.5, 3–5, and 8–12 micron wavebands, and improved cueing and clutter rejection via polarization and on FPA processing using ground test. Analyze and incorporate appropriate Warfighter hyperspectral technologies. By FY01 demonstrate on chip neomorphic processing, hyperspectral spatial and temporal signature processing with sensor using airborne testing. By FY02 field test an integrated sensor on a high altitude UAV and measure performance against stated objectives. In FY03 begin integration of advanced space sensor technologies into USAF Mighty–Sat platform for subsequent launch and demonstration in the DoD Tri–Service Space Test Program.

Supports: USASMDC/NVESD/USAF Phillips Lab Project, Force XXI, Army After Next, Space and Missile Defense Battle Lab, Battle Command Battle Lab, Depth and Simultaneous Attack Battle Lab, CCAWS