1. Definition
Joint Theater Missile Defense (JTMD) is the capability to use the assets of multiple Services and Agencies to detect, track, acquire, and destroy enemy theater ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. It includes the seamless flow of information on missile launches by specialized surveillance capabilities, through tracking by sensors from multiple services and Agencies, to missile negation and destruction.
2. Operational Capability Elements
The Theater Missile Defense Mission Need Statement defines the mission of JTMD as "to protect U.S. forces, U.S. allies, and other important countries, including areas of vital interest to the U.S., from theater missile attacks." The JTMD mission includes the protection of population centers, fixed civilian and military assets, and mobile military units. The four operational capability elements, or "pillars," of JTMD are: attack operations, active defense, passive defense, and command, control, communications and intelligence (C3I).
JTMD incorporates a family of systems, currently pursued individually by each service. The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) is responsible for the "family of systems" approach that will ensure timely and cost effective integration into the joint warfighting area. As illustrated in Figure IV.D.1, the three systems comprising the theater missile defense architecture are: (1) land-based interceptors (Patriot Advanced Capability-3, THAAD, Corps SAM) and land-based radars (Patriot and THAAD radars), (2) sea-based interceptors and radar (Navy-Lower Tier or Area Defense and Aegis radar), and (3) space-based sensors, including Space and Missile Tracking System (SMTS). All systems are linked by C3I networks to give joint interoperability.
In addition to the technologies addressed in this section, technologies to support advanced capabilities for attack operations are addressed in the Precision Force and Counterproliferation sections (sections B and L, respectively). The Precision Force section describes support against targets including TMD launchers. (See, for example, Figure IV.B.1.) The Counterproliferation section describes technologies focused on attacking weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and WMD-related facilities (including warhead and theater missile sites). Technologies in Section J, Chemical and Biological Warfare Agent Detection, includes aspects of passive defense related to theater missile defense.
JTMD supports four different Joint Warfighting Capability Assessment (JWCA) areas. It helps
assure land, sea, air, and space superiority by negating the theater missile threat in these
environments. It provides deterrence against nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) weapons
by providing a capability to confine enemy missile delivery systems to the enemy's own territory.
It enhances the command and control network by linking assets on land, at sea, airborne, and in
space together with high data rate communications. Finally, it augments the battlespace
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability with sensor and radar tracking platforms
in all these
environments. Technology programs can be further used to reduce system life-cycle costs by reducing the number of interceptors needed to counter the threat, developing improved manufacturing processes, and assuring system survivability..
The vision is a total Joint Theater Missile Defense architecture which capitalizes on the use of all service assets to combat theater missile threats from land, sea and air, allowing for initial quick response and improved defense capabilities as mobile forces move into a theater
The characteristics of the cruise missile (CM) threat present special challenges to the JTMD mission. They fly at low altitudes to avoid detection, can maneuver unpredictably to evade intercept, and can be launched from both air and surface carriers, reducing the likelihood of pre-launch suppression.
The current approach to a robust theater missile defense (TMD) capability is to provide a layered defense consisting of 360 degree low altitude coverage for terminal defense systems with extended battlespace into the upper tier to counter long range threats. This will bring the fight into the enemy's own back yard, inducing debris shortfall and countering the threat prior to release of submunitions. The more complex threats demand excellent target acquisition, tracking and discrimination; the ability to counter low observable targets, decoys (both intended and induced), and submunitions, and achieve reliable target kill.
Maneuvering targets pose additional requirements for agile interceptors. Work to reduce interceptor size and weight, and improve solid propellants, contributes significantly to the development and preplanned product improvement of common interceptor components.
Interoperability is greatly improved through work on data compression and data transfer. Innovation in this area must drive the component designs to link all services with common systems. Future experiments are planned to demonstrate coordinated surveillance and attack operations. They will focus on the space-to-ground (or sea) transfer of target object maps and state vectors, sea-land network links to fuse radar data, and distributed simulations using CONUS and theater-based processors linked to command centers. These demonstrations are designed to identify and correct weaknesses in the interoperability of various service assets and correct them.
3. Functional Capabilities
Figure IV.D.2 depicts the functional capabilities required to enable Joint Theater Missile Defense operational capability elements.
4. Current Capabilities, Deficiencies, and Barriers
The U.S. baseline capability includes the PATRIOT and HAWK Missile defense systems. The fielded PATRIOT technology allows for rapid accurate fire unit emplacement, remote launcher placement up to 12km from the radar, and radar enhancements to improve theater ballistic missile (TBM) detection and increase system survivability. The HAWK technology will yield a low risk, near-term capability for expeditionary forces against short range ballistic missiles through modifications to allow detection, tracking, and engagement of short range TBMs. These baseline capabilities are low altitude terminal systems, lacking the ability to reach out and negate the threat in the enemy's territory. There is currently no capability to engage threats in the upper tier, ascent, or boost phase of flight. The Air Force's Airborne Laser (ABL) program will address this capability.
The CINCs' JTMD assessment program and user interface efforts enable the ultimate user of the systems to redefine and articulate their JTMD requirements. The issues of target discrimination, sensor studies, lethality and target hardening, survivability, engineering and integration support, system architecture, and operations interface all benefit from the S&T efforts.
Figure IV.D.3 summarizes some of the current capabilities and limitations. The fundamental barriers include lack of interoperability, affordability, lethality, target signatures, and data fusion. Lack of interoperability stems from systems independently procured at different times or periods by the services and from independent service operational doctrine. Currently, the Capstone Operational Requirements Document (ORD) gives specific requirements for interoperable capabilities. Joint doctrine continues to evolve and bring synergy to the warfighting efforts of the services. Efforts must also be pursued to ensure NATO and allied force capabilities can operate together. Technology efforts will contribute to the commonality required for theater systems to interact and operate together and address issues of massive amounts of data flow and data fusion.
Affordability must be weighed against various priorities. Complete system architectures are high dollar investments, which must be measured against the perceived threats and desired results. Science and technology that improves production methods, contributes to commonality of components, improves reliability and supportability (thus reducing fielded system quantities), reduces size and weight, eases integration overhead, and reduces component and long term costs are worthwhile investments. High cost items such as interceptor seekers, power generation and conditioning systems for the Ground Based Radar (GBR), and lasers for airborne systems can be made smaller, lighter, and less expensive. Technology which improves interceptor probability of kill allows a reduction in interceptor inventory, leading to large cost reductions.
Lethality is a means of measuring a system's combat value. Plagued by many variables, it is,
nevertheless, an important factor in evaluating JTMD systems. Crucial areas of concern include
accurate kill assessment, accurate targeting, and aimpoint selection. Interceptors must become
more agile to counter maneuvering targets. Science and technology has invested in hit-to-kill,
blast fragmentation, and directed energy options for missile defense systems.
Capabilities |
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| Coordinated exchange of information among sensors, radars, launch platforms, interceptors, and command centers |
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| Acquire and track target and handover/ communicate data to command centers, fighters, and interceptors |
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| Negate the threat |
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| Receive, process and transfer data |
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Capabilities |
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| Early, long range, and accurate threat acquisition, tracking, and data distribution |
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| Coordinate cooperative acquisition, tracking, decision making, and kill assessment |
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Sensor data fusion is a technique in which multiple sensors provide individual data sets on targets and backgrounds, which are then processed into a single merged set of data. The fused data present a much more accurate picture of the battlespace to the field commanders than the sum of the individual data sets. The data fusion process occurs in different ways: (1) the fusion of data from several sensors on the same platform, e.g., a thermal imaging sensor and laser radar onboard an interceptor or a space surveillance satellite; (2) the transfer or handover of data from one sensor platform to another, e.g., target object map data handover from one surveillance sensor to an interceptor; or (3) the merging of track files recorded and processed from two or more geographically separated sensors, e.g., ground radar and space surveillance sensor data track files. These represent difficult technical problems for theater missile defense, since this fusion of data must take place in real time in order to be useful.
5. Technology Plan
Some of the key technologies needed to breach the limitations to achieving the functional capabilities and enabling the operational capability elements are shown in Figure IV.D.4. These technologies contribute to the seven Defense Technology Objectives (DTOs) which, together with the technologies cited in Section B (Precision Force) and Section L (Counter-Proliferation) for attack operations and Section J (Chemical and Biological Warfare Agent Detection), lead to four JTMD operational capability elements. These operational capability elements and the JWCO will be enabled by successfully attaining each of the DTOs, which are listed in Figure IV.D.5.
The DTOs are designed to demonstrate an ever-increasing capability with time, as advances in technology increase sub-system performance.
D.01 - The Navy Upper Tier or Theater-Wide Defense Interceptor requires an integration of newly emerging technologies such as a solid propellant for divert and attitude control systems (DACS). The objective is to demonstrate this capability with the launch of a hit-to-kill interceptor from a ship.
D.02 - The Integrated Sensor/Data Fusion Demonstration a series of experiments performed on the ground and on an aircraft, focusing on integrating a suite of novel optoelectronic sensors with a lightweight laser radar. These experiments utilize a state-of-the-art neural network image processor to perform high-speed sensor signal processing, and perform multi-sensor on-board sensor data fusion in real time, simulating a space or UAV based sensor platform with enhanced tracking and surveillance capability.
D.03 - The Advanced Discriminating Interceptor objective requires the integration of a passive sensor and active laser radar coupled to advanced data fusion algorithms and next generation propulsion and processing to perform reliable intercepts of complex, sophisticated target threat clouds.
D.04 - The Advanced X-Band Radar Demonstration will incorporate technology advances in GaAs MIMIC transmit/receive modules producing more than 20 watts of power, wide bandgap electronics for low frequency high power conditioning, and cryo-power for efficient power production. The goal is to decrease antenna and support vehicle footprint by half, while maintaining or improving the power/aperture product.
D.05 - The Advanced Space Surveillance objective exploits gains made in laser communications, advanced multi-band sensors, image data fusion algorithms, processors, satellite propulsion and solar power generation to demonstrate capabilities to detect and track complex threats, employing stealth and sophisticated decoys, from space.
WE.04 - The High Power Lasers for TMD DTO achieves laser beam propagation over long turbulent atmospheric paths using advanced tracking and compensation technology. It further reduces chemical oxygen-iodine laser mass for aircraft installation. Beam stability and atmospheric compensation is demonstrated using advanced algorithms and adaptive optics.
Each DTO is further defined in the DTO Volume for the JWSTP and the DTAP, Section II-D. As the DTOs are achieved, they are demonstrated with participation by warfighters. The demonstrations are listed in Figure IV.D.6. The schedule for technology development and achievement of DTOs is shown by the roadmap in Figure IV.D.7, along with the key technologies. Effective joint theater missile defense requires several systems to function together as an integrated unit: ground-based radar, ground- or sea-based interceptors, a space-based sensor, and a battle management architecture tying them all together. Thus, the roadmap for developing and demonstrating the technologies to make this possible is quite complex. Moreover, since the theater missile threat is an evolving one, the system of defenses must aspire to increasing levels of competence as it matures, calling on ever more advanced and highly capable technology, as is depicted in Figure IV.D.7.
Much of the technology for a first-generation theater missile defense system is already at hand and is at the testing and evaluation stage. Nevertheless, a defense technology objective program is in place to help manage the risk of the first deployments.
6. Summary
Figure IV.D.8 summarizes the build-up of capability to provide a full theater architecture for defense against ballistic and cruise missiles. Together with the THAAD system for high endoatmospheric intercepts of TBMs, the technology demonstrations provide additional capabilities to address intercepts above the atmosphere and precision targeting of CMs. Navy Area Defense is further enhanced by providing the capability for earlier, over-the-horizon targeting and tracking of TBM launches as well as an added superior discrimination ability on exoatmospheric interceptors. The objective system for JTMD, with a space-based detection and tracking system in place, is backed-up with technologies supporting advanced surveillance platforms and sensing.
