RDT&E, Defense-wide / BA 03 (Advanced Technology Development) PE: 0603173C (Proj: 1161)
PE Title: Support Tech (U)
| FY1995 | FY1996 | FY1997 | FY1998 | FY1999 | FY2000 | FY2001 | Program Name: | Actual | Estimate | Estimate | Estimate | Estimate | Estimate | Estimate | To Complete | Total Program |
0603173C RDT&E | 10,274 | 20,789 | 24,611 | 27,683 | 24,509 | 28,390 | 24,612 | Continuing | Continuing |
(U) To prepare for critical future active defense needs, advanced technology programs will conduct a balanced program of high leverage technologies that yield improved capabilities across a selected range of boost, midcourse, and terminal phase missile defense interceptors, advanced target sensors, and innovative science. The objectives of these investments are subsystems with improved performance or reduced costs for acquisition programs, and technical solution options to mitigate advanced and unpredicted threats.
(U) The Advanced Sensor Technology Program (ASTP) is BMDO's main advanced sensor program. ASTP is a joint Army, Navy, Air Force technology development and demonstration program, managed by BMDO. The purpose of ASTP is to provide the sensor technology needed to detect, track, discriminate and intercept advanced (post-2000) BMD threats. The technologies for ASTP were chosen through a technology requirements analysis driven by BMD missions, threats, system requirements and schedules. Care was taken to avoid duplication with other programs both inside and outside of BMDO. Starting in FY 1996, ASTP will realign interceptor-related technology efforts under Project 1270 to correspond with their discriminating interceptor technology focus.
(U) The three Services and BMDO are developing technologies in their Project Reliance areas of expertise. The Air Force is developing passive sensor technology, the Army - ladar technology, and the Navy - radar. These technologies will be infused from ASTP into BMDO core programs as they mature.
(U) In addition to development of critical component technologies, the three Services, in conjunction with BMDO, will build a complete sensor for demonstrating data fusion in FY2000. Data from the passive, ladar and radar sensors will be combined (fused) in a BMDO-developed fusion processor for tracking and discrimination.
(U) Real-time data fusion is a central focus of ASTP. It was identified as the best solution to the difficult signal processing problem by the technical requirements analysis. High speed data fusion algorithms are under development by BMDO for this critical need.
(U) Laboratory and field demonstrations of ASTP technologies will be conducted throughout the program, starting with an advanced focal plane imaging demo at White Sands Missile Range, NM (WSMR) of a representative BMD threat launch in mid FY95. Larger data fusion demonstrations will take place in FY00 and FY01. The first demonstration will be a ground demonstration of the radar and optical sensors beginning in late FY99. It will be followed by an airborne demonstration for fusing real-time, threat-representative radars, passive IR, and ladar data.
(U) The technologies under development in ASTP are:
Multiple Quantum Well (MQW) Focal Plane Arrays (FPA). MQW FPAs have made rapid progress in the past three years, and are now available in 256x256 format with quantum efficiency approaching 30%. This technology is important because of its potential for high sensitivity, low noise, high uniformity imaging and low production cost.
Multi-Color FPAs. FPAs capable of simultaneously measuring two or more Infrared (IR) wavebands will simplify sensor design for both surveillance and interceptor seekers. The result will be highly sensitive, discriminating sensors which are more reliable, lighter, and less costly than currently available.
Smart FPAs. Pre-processing sensor data on or near the FPA greatly improves processing throughout. This provides the overall processing speed needed for real-time data fusion for accomplishing multiple target tracking and discrimination, and tracking low-observable targets in clutter.
Imaging Ladar. Miniature Laser Radar (ladar) integrated with passive sensors will allow very accurate tracking and discrimination of BMD targets. Ladar capable of range-doppler and 3-dimensional imaging are under development. Eye safe ladar will be developed for the aircraft demo. The ladar technology under development by ASTP will be small enough for a 30-50kg exo-atmospheric kill vehicle.
Radar. Reliable booster detection and tracking through cloud-cover requires radar observations. ASTP will work with an existing airborne radar program to demonstrate this capability. Solid state millimeter wave (w-band) radar for endo-atmospheric interceptors is also under development.
Real Time Data Fusion Algorithms. Techniques for combining (fusing) data for tracking multiple targets, discrimination, and sensor optimization are under development. The algorithms are critically needed as principal elements of the fusion processor. They are the central focus of the ASTP data fusion effort.
(U) Russian American Observation Satellites (RAMOS)
(U) The RAMOS program is a FY96 cooperative effort with Russian scientists and engineers to exchange IR data acquired through remote sensing systems and to develop plans for future cooperative space experiments. This program investigates options to leverage off existing funded experiments to foster a closer working relationship at the technology level between both nations.
(U) Clementine and Miniaturized Sensor Technology Integration (MSTI) programs successfully demonstrated the operational capability of existing sensor technology in space. The MSTI program was transferred to the Air Force and the Clementine program was transferred to the Navy. A review of on-going and planned sensor advanced development efforts was conducted by BMDO with participation from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. ASTP represented a shift in FY95 from demonstration of existing sensors to development of advanced sensor subsystems. Studies and analyses were conducted to provide insight to the most promising technologies for BMD applications. Specific technologies were then consolidated into the ASTP and are now under development. These include: multi-color FPAs using aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) MQW technology on-FPA processors; eyesafe solid-state laser radars for atmospheric surveillance; miniature gigaflop processors; advanced radar techniques; and multi-target and data fusion algorithms. This program will integrate these components into complete sensors, develop appropriate algorithms to fuse multi-sensor information, and will perform field tests and demonstrations. Passive and active sensors will be integrated in ground demonstrations starting in FY96, leading to further development and integration for flight demonstration in FY00. Multiple approaches will be pursued for various sensor subsystems when more than one technology appears feasible and selection cannot be made without additional development and testing. Technology downselects will occur in late FY98 for the atmospheric surveillance flight demonstration in FY00.
o ($1.340M) Developed ASTP planning and analyses including program scheduling and critical path identification; test planning/requirements; and sensor suite integration planning.
o ($1.000M) Raptor-Talon was terminated.
o ($0.850M) Continued sensor testbed development.
o ($1.730M) Designed passive IR multi-color MQW FPAs and on-FPA processors for advanced seekers; performed 1 Color MQW lab test; and 1 Color MQW field test at WSMR.
($3.264M) Designed eyesafe ladar components.
o ($0.500M) Integrated radar technology development objectives with existing programs.
o ($0.590M) Developed data fusion processing hardware algorithms and performed data fusion experiment at WSMR (Combined radar, ladar, and passive IR.)
o ($1.000M) Defined terms of RAMOS agreement, reviewed and organized remote sensing data, and performed data exchange.
o ($5.285M) Develop sensor integration requirements and begin system integration planning, demonstration planning, and simulation for ground demonstrations; allocate subsystem requirements to achieve performance enhancements beyond current NMD & TMD sensor capabilities, develop airborne demonstration data and signal architecture, conduct system level system design review (SDR).
o ($4.209M) Perform sequential 2-color 256x256 MQW imagery demonstration, perform on-FPA processing demostration.
Perform 2 Color sequential MQW lab tests.
o ($1.400M) Demonstrate eyesafe laser pump and 6m multiple-folded CO2 ladar.
o ($2.325M) Continue testing and integration of radar sensors and begin development of ballistic missile defense mode.
o ($1.300M) Complete planning, begin development and testing of data fusion algorithms with system simulations.
o ($4.997M) Define terms of RAMOS agreement.
o ($1.273M) BMDO Civilian salary contribution.
o ($5.872M) Begin laboratory, ground, and chamber demonstrations of components, begin planning for flight demonstrations, begin system performance simulations, conduct system Preliminary Design Review (PDR), and begin system design.
o ($8.063M) Continue development, integration, and testing of passive IR components that are candidates for multi-sensor flight demonstration: demonstrate simultaneous 256x256 2-color MQW array at Army Missile Optical Range (AMOR), and deliver on- FPA electronics.
o ($4.331M) Fabricate and deliver hardened eyesafe aluminum gallium antimonide arsenide detector for eyesafe ladar and demonstrate 2-D imaging.
o ($3.846M) Continue integration of radar sensor for multi-sensor flight demonstration.
o ($1.226M) Develop and test fusion processing algorithms for tracking and discrimination from an airborne platform.
o ($1.273M) BMDO Civilian salary contribution.
o ($7.286M) Perform laboratory, ground, and chamber demonstrations of integrated components; plan for sensor suite integration and flight demonstrations, system performance simulations, complete system Critical Design Review (CDR) and begin demonstration system fabrication and finalize system interfaces.
o ($9.801M) Continue development, integration, and testing of passive IR components that are candidates for multi-sensor flight demonstration; demonstrate 128x128 high-quantum-efficiency MQW array.
Fabricate 128x128 configuration on-FPA processing electronics brassboard for multi-sensor flight demonstration.
o ($4.538M) Continue development, integration, and airborne testing of wide area search (WAS) APS-145 radar for multi-sensor flight demonstration. Test ASTP system to radar interface.
o ($1.212M) Continue development and testing of fusion processing algorithms and mapping real-time algorithms onto high performance computer (HPC) processor. Demonstrate passive to active sensor handover at AMOR.
o ($3.573M) Continue development and testing of eyesafe ladar.
o ($1.273M) BMDO Civilian salary contribution.
(U) Acquisition Strategy: ASTP is a Tri-Service/BMDO program. The executing agents will utilize existing contracts, and in-house resources to perform this program. The Air Force is developing passive IR technology (multi-color FPAs and on-FPA processing) and is responsible for passive sensor technology development, integration, and testing. The Army is responsible for ladar technology development, integration, and testing. The Navy is developing radar technology (bi-static) and is leveraging off of existing airborne radar programs. BMDO is developing fusion processor technology and algorithms and is responsible for performing platform integration and conducting major flight demos. BMDO will initiate contracts to perform these efforts. Cooperation with on-going programs will be maximized to leverage funding.
(U) ASTP is an on-going program with many contracts in place. A coordinated team of management and technical personnel is now in place in the Army, Navy, and Air Force, managed by BMDO. Essential documentation has been prepared, and mission requirements have been analyzed, with flowed-down to ASTP component designs. Broad Agency Announcements have been published and proposals evaluated to ensure potential attractive technologies and innovative approaches have not been overlooked during the tri-service planning efforts. BMDO contracting efforts are in progress to initiate platform integration and sensor fusion.
| FY1995 | FY1996 | FY1997 | FY1998 | TOTAL COST | |
| Previous President's Budget | 10,162 | 23,500 | 27,840 | 27,300 | 88,802 |
| Current Budget Submit | 10,274 | 20,789 | 24,611 | 27,683 | 83,357 |
Change Summary Explanation:
Funding: Modifications result from refining the separation of technologies and efforts between Project 1161 and Project 1270.
Schedule: None
Technical: Sensor and interceptor technology efforts have been realigned within Projects 1161 and 1270 respectively to better reflect the technologies' principal applications.
| Related RDT&E: | Funding Dependency? (Yes1/No) |
| 1270 Applied Interceptor Materials and Systems | Yes |
| Technology, PE 0603872C, PE 0603173C | |
| 1360 Directed Energy Programs, PE 0603173C | No |
| 3360 Test Resources, PE 0603173C, PE 0603871C | No |
1Funding data for related RDT&E efforts that have a funding dependency can be found in the respective project summary/program element.
| FY1995 | FY1996 | FY1997 | FY1998 | |||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| Engineering Milestone | xa | xb | xc | xd | xe | xf | ||||||||||
| T&E Milestone | ||||||||||||||||
| Tech Demo Milestone | xg | xh | xi,j | xk | xl,m,n | |||||||||||
| Contract Milestone | xo | xp | xq | xr | ||||||||||||
a On-FPA Processing Electronics Design Complete
b Eyesafe Ladar Pump Demo
c Simultaneous 2-color 256x256 MQW Imagery Demonstration
d ASTP Passive optical and ladar technology downselects for airborne surveillance flight demo
e Fabricate FED 128x128 on-FPA processing electronics
f Passive-to-active sensor handover demo at AMOR
g Sequential 2-color 256x256 MQW Imagery Demonstration
h Define Terms of RAMOS Agreement
i Demonstrate FED smart windowing
j Eyesafe Ladar 2-D imaging demo
k On-FPA Electronics Demo
l WAS Radar Aircraft Test Demo
m Demo 240x4 multi-color scanning strained-layer superlattice
n Demo 128x128 high-quantum-efficiency MQW array
o System-level PDR; interface requirements defined
p Hardened Eyesafe Solid-State Ladar AlGaSb Detector Delivery
q On-FPA Electronics Delivery
r System-level CDR; interfaces frozen; begin system fabrication
| Demostration passive sensor subsystem against launch at Malabar | 1Q/FY99 |
| Ground Demonstration of Fused Sensor at Moutian Top | 4Q/FY99 |
| Demo enhanced algorithms for on-FPA signal processor | 2Q/FY00 |
| Airborne demonstration of integrated fused-sensor suite | 3Q/FY00 |
| Reduce airborne test science data to engineering units for analysis | 2Q/FY01 |
| Fabricate and test 512x512 on-FPA processor | 3Q/FY01 |