The Navy is investigating two candidate lens technologies (ferroelectric and diode) for reducing the cost and weight of X-band phased arrays, while still maintaining the required performance. In FY98, a 5" x 5" ferroelectric lens will be built and tested. Specific technology goals are 3-GHz bandwidth and an insertion loss of less than 1.5 dB for a single lens. Goals for this technology program are to achieve mission acceptable performance (platform dependent) at a procurement cost of less than 70% of current high-performance active element array costs. Cost savings goals are based on ESA capability with few or no transmit/receive modules. In the diode lens approach, the necessary phase gradient is introduced by turning diode strips located between parallel plates on and off to change the apparent dielectric constant. In FY98, a 4" x 8" diode lens will be tested as a radar with slotted array. Specific technology goals are 1-GHz bandwidth, insertion loss of less then 1.0 dB for the lens, and sidelobe degradation of less than 2 dB.

The Radar Systems Aperture Technology is an Air Force program for demonstrating technologies to reduce radar systems cost by 40% and improve radar systems reliability by 40%, while maintaining or improving overall system performance. Technologies being developed include continuous transverse stub (CTS) antennas made of voltage-variable dielectric material. CTS antennas provide ESA performance at half the cost of active ESAs. A laboratory demonstration of the CTS antenna will be conducted in FY98.

Milestones include, in FY 97, boom SAR data collection experiments, and collection of 25 SAR strip maps with 280 target scenarios and 12 ISAR images using four tactical vehicles to support analysis of target/clutter discrimination techniques for automatic target detection; and, in FY98, ground demonstration of real-time target detection algorithms having a 90% detection probability with less than 0.1 false alarm per square kilometer of targets concealed under foliage.

Milestones include, in FY97, demonstration of the AEW Radar Model incorporating STAP against 55-dB clutter data; in FY98, extension to height findings of targets less than 500 ft; in FY99, STAP augmentation showing 15-dB improvement J Hook clutter suppression and Airborne STAP testbed; and, in FY00, demonstration of low-cost, lightweight MTI/SAR with 70% probability of detection and false alarm rate of two targets/min at ranges greater than 12 km for MTI and 5 km for SAR.

Milestones include, in FY97, detection and tracking of BQM-74 drone at 18 nmi by system installed on Self-Defense Test Ship, and RFI and EMI testing on LSD-41; and, in FY98, detection and tracking of BQM-74 drone at 20 nmi by system installed on LSD-41.

Multidimensional processing algorithms to fully exploit the spatial, spectral, and temporal characteristics of a dynamic target relative to natural background clutter are being developed. These algorithms will be completed and mapped into a COTS parallel signal processor for laboratory test in FY97. The initial transition for this processor is to the PEO for theater air defense in FY98 for integration with the Shipboard Two-Color IRST. This hardware will undergo extensive at-sea operational evaluation during FY98 and FY99. This DTO demonstrates a multifunction staring sensor suite that provides ground vehicles, amphibious assault vehicles, and surface ships with a compact affordable sensor suite for long-range noncooperative target ID, mortar/sniper fire location, and air defense against low-signature UAVs and long-range helicopters. By FY00, the goal is to integrate FLIR, multifunction laser, and acoustic components and demonstrate search, acquisition, and noncooperative identification. The FY01 goal is to integrate weapons/fire location processing and demonstrate the capability to detect and locate mortar/sniper fire. Warfighting capability payoffs are in passive covert sensing for threat target detection, warning, and situational awareness including on-the-move ground air defense vehicles.

^*Non-S&T funds.

In FY97, the Navy's shipboard two-color (3-5, 8-12) scanning IRST transitioned to PEO (TAD)'s E&MD IRST 6.4 program for at-sea performance characterization and operational effectiveness evaluation. The Navy is developing the next-generation step-stare IRST for fixed-wing aircraft detection and tracking of TBMs and cruise missiles. In FY98, the airborne step-stare IRST will be in carrier-based E-2C AEW aircraft for extensive operational utility evaluation. In FY98-99, BMDO will add an eye-safe ladar to the IRST to provide angle-angle-range precision tracking of TBMs for the joint U.S./Israeli UAV BPI program. In FY99, the step-stare surveillance IRST will transition to Naval Air Systems Command PMA-231 for engineering development.

The Army's Electronic Integrated Sensor Suite (EISS) Bradley Demonstrator is a technology demonstration program that directly supports Army air defense requirements. The objective of the Army program is to integrate passive sensors onto ground vehicles and demonstrate autonomous and continuous wide-area volume search, detection, tracking, and identification of low-flying threat aircraft. The cornerstone of EISS is the Advanced Air Defense Electro Optics Sensor. This is a two-color (3-5, 8-12) IRST that can detect and track up to 300 targets while continuously scanning. The EISS was successfully demonstrated in FY96 and also at ASCIET 96. In FY97, the EISS program will complete development of algorithms; they will be coded and installed into a high-performance parallel processor, and an on-the-move capability will be demonstrated through simulation. These IRST system developments will lead to significant increases in operational capabilities, providing the warfighter with a covert long-range surveillance, precision track, and cueing sensor not previously feasible.

LBVDS will provide a 20-30-dB improvement in active sonar detection and classification against a low-Doppler, below-the-layer threat in shallow water. Detection ranges in the 12-15-nmi range, combined with a large probability of detection (»0.9) and a low false alarm rate (one per day), will allow the surface combatant to control an area of the ocean. This will permit the surface combatant to sail confidently into any waters to accomplish its primary mission. The increased detection ranges will reduce the visual targeting capability of threat submarines, diminishing the submarine torpedo threat. The LBVDS design recognizes that ASW, as a support function, must be accomplished with minimum time and resources. The system is designed to operate with minimal impact on the ship.

A broadband sonar with large time-bandwidth products (approximately 10,000) and good spatial (approximately 0.3 m) and Doppler (approximately 0.3 m/s) resolution is required to suppress reverberation and channel-fading effects that dominate shallow-water active acoustic returns. A variable-depth sonar is required to match the signal to the sound channel occupied by the target while reducing surface reverberation (greater than 10 dB) and damping projector motion. A lightweight (less than 1,500 kg) tow body is required for tactical handling considerations at sea. Transducer material development and selection will be completed by FY97. Sea trials to evaluate system issues and collect broad-bandwidth data will be conducted in FY97, FY98, and FY99. The control, transmit, receive, and handling subsystems will be designed, fabricated, and tested by FY00. System integration, at-sea demonstration, and final report will be completed by FY02.

The program will use a multistatic system to provide a 15-20-dB improvement over existing passive systems, increase detection ranges by a factor of 3 to 5, and increase area coverage by a factor of 10. It will provide pre-production models of a multistatic ASW system to the fleet within 3 years from program start, and support fleet evaluation for 2 years. Projector critical design review, processor selection, TB-29 and RDS-1 sea trials, and initial vulnerability assessment will be completed by FY97. Projector final design review and an over-the-side test of brass board units will be completed in FY98. Demonstration of a pre-prototype system on a naval combatant is planned for FY99. Support of combatant systems will be provided through FY00.

For multiline towed arrays, near-term goals are to transition technology to PMS 425 for a short, three-line multiline array capable of being stored in the existing TB-16 flushing tube (FY97). Longer term goals are to demonstrate the feasibility of a high-gain multiline array of about seven lines with length equivalent to the existing TB-23, to demonstrate an active source array that can be towed with the receive array for acoustic communications and rapid target localization, and to demonstrate fully reconfigurable apertures. For all-optical arrays, the near-term goal is demonstration of thin-optical towed array (TOTA) technology using a Bragg grating-based multiplexing approach to achieve up to 80% reduction in per-element wet-end cost (FY97), and to demonstrate satisfactory acoustic performance of reduced-diameter arrays against flow-induced self noise (FY98). The longer term goal is demonstration of a new (classified) approach for constructing all-optical arrays with potential for greater than 90% reduction in per-channel cost, and inherent versatility for use over a very wide acoustic bandwidth (by FY00). Initial collaborations with PEO(USW) ASTO on high-gain multiline towed arrays, active adjunct, and fully reconfigurable arrays will begin in FY97, with transition of high-gain multiline technology to PEO (USW) planned for FY99.

By FY97, the program will establish common image/signal databases, standardize evaluation metrics and procedures, imbed synthetic IR targets into synthetic backgrounds, and, using real and synthetic infrared imagery, establish the human/human-ATR performance baseline for wide sector search, and develop virtual prototype of an ATR for a tank cueing application.

FY98 goals are to establish a common performance database for ATR, incorporate ATR underpinnings results from the research community and, using real and synthetic SAR imagery, establish the human/human-ATR performance baseline for wide area search, and demonstrate middleware concept for reusable application software.

By FY99, the program will demonstrate real-time synthetic multispectral image generation to support distributed interactive simulations; and demonstrate 1-5-Hz synthetic IR scene generation with high fidelity to support ATR ID evaluation.

The program will, by FY97, demonstrate using JSTARS' proposed SAR upgrade 0.7 P_id and P_fa of 0.01 FA/km² against stationary critical mobile target; by FY98, demonstrate 0.9 P_id against stationary MRL and P_fa of 0.01 FA/km² using Predator SAR and demonstrate using JSTARS, detection, track maintenance, and 0.9 P_cc against high-value moving ground targets; and by FY99, demonstrate for U-2 and HAE UAV, detection, track maintenance, and 0.9 P_cc against high-value moving ground targets and demonstrate in P-3 and S-3 aircraft, using ISAR imagery, 0.85 P_id against moving ground vehicles and small ships.

Two thrusts are currently underway supporting the DTO effort: the Maritime Avionics Subsystem Technology Program and the Aging Aircraft Avionics workshop held in September 1996 at WPAFB. The workshop, comprising corporate level representatives from the major aircraft prime contractors, depots, and Air Force commands, planned technology efforts to solve the upgrade and support issues for aging aircraft that will represent over 80% of the operational fleet for the next 35 years.

FY98 will develop individual enabling technology applications such as analog RF photonics, digital fiber optic networks, high-density electrical connectors, integrated sensor systems in the RF and EO domains, and digital IF processors. FY99-00 will produce "stairstep" demonstrations of system capability threads using incremental modeling and simulation integration demonstrations. The focus will include information fusion, portable operating systems, support software environments and COTS-based technology. These will be followed by incremental prototyping and integration demonstrations involving packaged hardware, reconfigurable or throw-away modules, and system software re-use. The final far-term demonstration will be real-time weapon system integration applications applied to a retrofit program for operational aircraft. Technology goals to be reached by FY00 include a 30% reduction in avionics suite cost (development, flyaway, and support) and reduced weight/volume/prime power by 30%. The tri-service testbed will allow timely integration of current enabling technologies and provide opportunities for tri-service access, common interface, and joint utilization of products.

This program will eliminate most analog electronics and perform the functions digitally. To accomplish this, the following must be achieved: improved high-speed A/Ds and D/As, RF up-and-down converters, high-speed digital signal processors, and low-power electronics. All of the RF functions will be processed by a single device. The success of this program will result in a 5:1 reduction in wiring, a 10:1 reduction in weight and power, and an 8:1 reduction in life-cycle cost (LCC) for electronic modules.

Tradeoff studies will be performed to define critical design parameters affecting requirements for system applications across the naval airborne, shipborne, undersea, and overhead platforms involving RF sensors, interfacing, and data processing assets. Once this is completed, a system design document describing recommended architecture(s) and function performance parameters will be developed, followed by advanced development models for an integrated processor. Demonstration tests initially will be performed in the laboratory and then in an SH-60R helicopter for flight testing.

Milestones include, in FY97, components validation, module design, and LCC modeling; in FY98, module design and prototyping and LCC module validation; in FY99, module assembly, fabrication and integration, and laboratory tests; and, in FY00, SH-60R installation and SH-60 flight demonstration.

Specific objectives include complete flexible manufacturing technology for mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) for burst-mode operation (FY97); demonstrating thin-film ferroelectric FPA with noise-equivalent delta temperature (NEDT) of 0.05 K (FY97); determining material, isolation structure and pixel design for high-resistivity uncooled FPA, and design a dual-spectral uncooled sensor imaging in the visible/near IR and 8-12-micron spectral regions. Visible/near IR technology will be leveraged from the near IR solid-state IR camera effort under the Display thrust (FY98); demonstrating NEDT of 0.01K for uncooled FPA with 30-micron pixels (FY99); demonstrating a ten times reduction in false alarm rate with dual-band FPA sensing resulting in a two times increase in effective detection range (FY99); and demonstrating dual-band and dual-color sensing and partition smart functions between on- and off-focal plane processing (FY99).

In the memory area, the objective is to provide the necessary storage and retrieval device technologies for the timely dissemination of highly volatile C⁴I information achieving terabit-petabit (10¹²-10¹⁵) storage with nanosecond access times in 1 cm³ volume. Revolutionary concepts in information storage and retrieval to provide (1) higher capacity, faster throughput, and decreased access time for data handling and (2) timely intelligence to the warfighter will be developed. The advent of optoelectronic computers and highly parallel electronic processors has brought about a need for storage systems with enormous memory capacity and bandwidth. These demands cannot be met with current memory technologies (e.g., semiconductor, magnetics) without having the memory system completely dominate the processors in terms of overall cost, power consumption, and volume.

Specific goals of this DTO include demonstration of a 3D write-once-read-many (WORM) times optical memory system (FY98); demonstration of parallel optical interconnects up to 2.5 Gb/s (FY99); demonstration of free space optical interconnects up to 1 Gb/s (FY00); demonstration of 2D photonic modules with greater than 1,000 smart pixels per cm² (FY00); demonstration of 1 trillion operations/second optoelectronic processor (FY00); and demonstration of a read-write-erase 3D memory (FY00).

This DTO is related to JWSTP DTO A.09, Semiautomated Imagery Processing ACTD, which references the need for a mass storage capability to provide memory for change detection. Mass data storage is also referenced as a key technology under JWCO, Information Superiority.

This program will achieve performance improvements due to better bandwidth capability (1,000 times) as well as cost savings due to lighter, smaller (100 times), and less complex and demanding assemblies. It will develop components to demonstrate RF system impact by introducing photonics technology in phased array antenna systems, channelizers and down converters, microwave RF interconnects, and beam formers.

This DTO is a high-speed analog fiber optic technology with relevance to JWSTP DTO B.12, Enhanced Fiber Optic Guided Missile (EFOGM) ATD. Related high-speed (optical and fiber optic) datalinks are key technologies referenced under goals for JWCOs Joint Theater Missile Defense, Military Operations in Urban Terrain, and Joint Readiness and Logistics. It will demonstrate a 2-18-GHz optical interconnect system for airborne RF signal distribution (FY98); millimeter-wave modulators and detectors for EHF SATCOM, and EW ECM (FY99); 1-100-GHz optical RF frequency synthesizer for EW, ELINT, and ECM (FY99); 1-100-GHz channelizer for ELINT/SIGINT (FY00); and a full-scale phased array controlled photonically for SATCOM and ECM (FY00).

Specific technology objectives include demonstration of power converters with 95% efficiency by FY97; demonstration of a radiation-hard, single-chip, 16-bit silicon-on-insulator (SOI) processor for strategic missile applications by FY97; development of a submicron radiation-resistant microelectronics fabrication process to produce a 16 times increase in density, and enable development of a 32-bit data processor by FY98 and a radiation-resistant 4-Mb static memory by FY99; demonstration of a 256 k-bit nonvolatile memory by FY99; and development of an extremely high-density, mixed-signal sensor processor that incorporates next-generation packaging concepts by FY99.

Specific technology objectives include development of an integrated inertial guidance system on a chip in FY97; demonstration of a high-performance accelerometer that is monolithically integrated with electronics exhibiting ten times improvement in stability and sensitivity over current accelerometers in FY98; and demonstration of integration densities of 500 integrated mechanical components/cm² in FY98, and densities of 1,000 integrated mechanical components/cm² in FY99.

The program will deliver next-generation primary batteries (30% increase in power density) for tactically mobile use in the 21st Century Land Warrior Field demonstration in FY98; deliver initial prototype fuel cells for field demonstrators to Dismounted Battlespace BattleLab (ACTII demonstration) and Special Forces Command (60% reduction in power source weight) in FY98; deliver next-generation 60-lb, diesel-fuel-burning, 3,000-W engine driven generator set for use in the Gen II and Hunter Sensor Suite ATDs in FY98; and demonstrate liquid-fueled fuel cell in FY99.

The program demonstrates a 100-W, 50-3.3-Vdc, high-efficiency, high-density, low-voltage power that operates at 1 MHz with a conversion efficiency of 90% in FY97. Further advances in the use of wide bandgap materials for power applications will realize additional improvements in conversion efficiency while increasing switching speeds to as high as 100 MHz by FY00. The program also will demonstrate PEBBs for application in advanced shipboard for a "More Electric Navy" (e.g., SC-21, airborne, combat systems, vehicular platforms), providing ten times improvements in power conversion, distribution efficiency, power density, and switching speeds that reduces the size, weight, and cost; and a three to five times improvement in reliability by FY00. A goal is to provide 90% reduction in cost for power, using digital-controlled elements.

^*Non-S&T funds.

This program will develop and demonstrate shipboard, workstation-hosted, four-dimensional ocean current and waves forecast capabilities for the littoral environment. Parameters will include temperature, salinity, currents, tidal elevation, and shallow-water wave and surf heights, periods, and directions. The existing Navy Ocean Model, Assimilation, Demonstration System (NOMADS) is a research and development "breadboard" to develop and demonstrate shipboard, workstation-hosted ocean nowcast and forecast systems. NOMADS will be specifically used to facilitate these transitions to operational environmental systems afloat and at the NAVOCEANO Warfighting Support Center.

Out-year capabilities of the NOMADS framework will include the nowcast/forecast capability for coastal temperature, salinity, and currents. The initial capability including temperature, salinity, and wind-forced currents will transition in FY97. Inclusion of models with tidal and density-driven currents will allow a true near-shore capability for FY98 transition. An upgrade to the existing operational Navy standard surf model will also occur in FY98, including wave transformation caused by refraction and diffraction in shallow water coupled to the an upgraded surf forecast module. Effects of coupled waves and tides will be added as an upgrade transitioned in FY99. The additional inclusion of high-resolution coastal current capabilities will transition in FY00.

^*Army Civil Works R&D Program 321; non-S&T funds.

The autonomous ocean sampling network will be capable of numerous types of missions in the littoral zone depending on the sensor suites available. The system will be capable of programmed mapping of critical 3D ocean fields (and ultimately of real-time adaptive sampling in 4D). For the timeframe of the DTO, the focus will be the accurate mapping of ocean fields—bottom bathymetry accurate to l-m horizontal and 1/2-m vertical resolution—and measurement of sound speed to 1 m/sec. This technology is immediately transferable to naval bathymetry survey operations with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). ROVs reduce the cost of acquiring bathymetric data while they increase the area of data coverage. Orca, NAVOCEANO's ROV, is used to gather bathymetric data. In cost effectiveness, Orca costs about $1.6 million, versus a T-AGS (survey ship) cost of about $65 million (i.e., Orca is l/40 the cost of a ship). Alternatively, survey coverage is 1.8 to 2 times more by using Orca plus ship than by use of ship alone.

In FY97, the program will pursue development of environmental sensors as well as related technologies that may be utilized on autonomous UUVs, and evaluate the environmental sensors under development by the Army for applicability. In FY98, the goal is to conduct joint operations off' North Carolina with NAVOCEANO, its ROV, and autonomous vehicles. By FY00, the program will demonstrate an integrated autonomous ocean sampling network of oceanographic measurement nodes for high-resolution spatial and temporal characterization of complex ocean features. Short-term technical barriers include multiple-vehicle underwater communications; subsurface navigation; and small, lightweight sensors for the variety of ocean properties.

^*Army Civil Works R&D Program 321, non-S&T funds.

Milestones include: in FY98, development of an infrared thermal model for advanced EOTDA model with a 25% improvement in lock-on range estimation, and demonstration of a 40-60% increase in weather data input to mission planning from an integrated propagation code for Army Division Task Force XXI; in FY99, installation of a more advanced coastal region aerosol model that incorporates, for the first time, surf and anthropogenic aerosol sources; and, in FY01, transition of the tactical targeting EO simulator to AF Mission Planning System, introducing the capability to specify detailed scenes based on spectral response of the weapon system.

Milestones include, in FY97, delivering cloud and aviation impact variable algorithms for USAF Theater Battle Management transition; in FY97, demonstrating the feasibility of tactical weather radar to measure radial wind, Doppler spectrum width, and precipitation type which will provide more than an order of magnitude improvement in analysis resolution of wind and moisture fields; in FY98, demonstrating a ground-based mobile atmospheric profiler that can reduce the observation/analysis turnaround time by 4-8 hours thereby reducing vehicle and personnel demands by one-third; in FY99, demonstrating a nested air-sea-coupled regional prediction system for operational implementation capable of improving forecast resolution by a factor of five, allowing prediction of tactical parameters such as visibility and EM refractivity, and delivering to IMETS an upgraded battlefield forecast model that reduces the error of cloud amount and precipitation amount forecasts by 40%; and, in FY01, incorporating prediction of aerosol-size distributions into regional and global prediction systems to provide, for the first time, detailed visibility and explicit cloud forecasts.

Milestones include: in FY98, complete assessment of CCS mitigation techniques, with the elimination of all spacecraft charging hazards on operational satellites using CCS techniques; in FY99, demonstrate CEASE functionally in spaceflight, with a goal of 90% local specification of hazardous space conditions for operational satellites flying CEASE; and, in FY01, space flight BCHIS test system, showing a 25% increase in speed of application of BCHIS tested technologies to space system design.

Milestones in FY97 include delivering atmospheric spatial structure background code with a 25% improvement in clutter suppression algorithms; in FY98, integrating atmosphere, cloud, and terrain backgrounds with a 25% improvement in sensor accuracy; in FY00, delivering to BMDO 3D background clutter simulation code with a 50% improvement in clutter suppression algorithms; and, in FY01, delivering to BMDO real-time scene generation codes for M&S with a 50% improvement in target-image reconstruction.

^*Non-S&T funds.

The goal is application of these advances for down conversion with an InP HBT bandpass D-S modulator for a double down-conversion receiver (180-MHz center frequency) by FY97, with improvements for a single down-conversion receiver (1-GHz center frequency) by FY98, and a direct conversion receiver (10-GHz center frequency) by FY99.