MAY 2010WALES, Ltd.AirBorne EO Sensor for BMD - 1/17
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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
MAY 2010WALES, Ltd.AirBorne EO Sensor for BMD - 2/17
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UNCLASSIFIEDApproved for Public Release - 10-MDA-5450 (04 MAY 10)
PRESENTATION TOPICSPRESENTATION TOPICS
• Overview
• Sensor Suite Missions
• Typical Sensors
• Attributes of EO Sensors
• Conclusions and Summary
AIRBORNE EO SENSORS FOR BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
MAY 2010WALES, Ltd.AirBorne EO Sensor for BMD - 3/17
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UNCLASSIFIEDApproved for Public Release - 10-MDA-5450 (04 MAY 10)
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)
AIRBORNE EO SENSORS FOR BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
MAY 2010WALES, Ltd.AirBorne EO Sensor for BMD - 4/17
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UNCLASSIFIEDApproved for Public Release - 10-MDA-5450 (04 MAY 10)
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)
AIRBORNE EO SENSORS FOR BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
MAY 2010WALES, Ltd.AirBorne EO Sensor for BMD - 5/17
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UNCLASSIFIEDApproved for Public Release - 10-MDA-5450 (04 MAY 10)
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
AIRBORNE EO SENSORS FOR BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
MAY 2010WALES, Ltd.AirBorne EO Sensor for BMD - 7/17
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UNCLASSIFIEDApproved for Public Release - 10-MDA-5450 (04 MAY 10)
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
AIRBORNE EO SENSORS FOR BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
MAY 2010WALES, Ltd.AirBorne EO Sensor for BMD - 9/17
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIEDApproved for Public Release - 10-MDA-5450 (04 MAY 10)
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
AIRBORNE EO SENSORS FOR BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
MAY 2010WALES, Ltd.AirBorne EO Sensor for BMD - 10/17
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UNCLASSIFIEDApproved for Public Release - 10-MDA-5450 (04 MAY 10)
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
AIRBORNE EO SENSORS FOR BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
MAY 2010WALES, Ltd.AirBorne EO Sensor for BMD - 12/17
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UNCLASSIFIEDApproved for Public Release - 10-MDA-5450 (04 MAY 10)
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
AIRBORNE EO SENSORS FOR BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
MAY 2010WALES, Ltd.AirBorne EO Sensor for BMD - 13/17
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UNCLASSIFIEDApproved for Public Release - 10-MDA-5450 (04 MAY 10)
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
AIRBORNE EO SENSORS FOR BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
MAY 2010WALES, Ltd.AirBorne EO Sensor for BMD - 14/17
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UNCLASSIFIEDApproved for Public Release - 10-MDA-5450 (04 MAY 10)
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
AIRBORNE EO SENSORS FOR BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
MAY 2010WALES, Ltd.AirBorne EO Sensor for BMD - 15/17
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UNCLASSIFIEDApproved for Public Release - 10-MDA-5450 (04 MAY 10)
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
AIRBORNE EO SENSORS FOR BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
MAY 2010WALES, Ltd.AirBorne EO Sensor for BMD - 16/17
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UNCLASSIFIEDApproved for Public Release - 10-MDA-5450 (04 MAY 10)
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
AIRBORNE EO SENSORS FOR BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
MAY 2010WALES, Ltd.AirBorne EO Sensor for BMD - 17/17
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIEDApproved for Public Release - 10-MDA-5450 (04 MAY 10)