SBIR-STTR Award

Now that the ABM Treaty is defunct, an opportunity exists to consider an efficient missile defense communications architecture, which could link the missile interceptor to sensors and nodes, over-the-horizon, using MDA's high altitude airship as a relay platform. This proposal focuses on one important aspect of the whole architecture--over-the-horizon connectivity to the interceptor. In the first phase, an optimum methodology for performing tradeoff studies for alternatives to connect interceptors to ground nodes and sensors will be identified. Physical specifications and joint military utility aspects of communications schemes will be considered. Once the tradeoff methodology is identified, a couple candidate schemes will be chosen for total connectivity evaluation. Since MDA's airship offers great potential as an over-the-horizon communications link, challenges to integrating comm nodes on the airship will also be analyzed. In the final phase, comm nodes will be acquired, mounted on the airship and flown over the missile defense testbed

The Missile Defense Agency is engaged in deployment and operation of a Ground-based Mid-course, missile defense program under an overarching Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). The command and control portion of this program that will host a fusion system combining data from multiple sensor elements is known as the Command and Control Battle Management Communications (C2BMC) System. As the complexity of the BMDS continues to increase, certain advancements to the C2BMC would be useful to improve its effectiveness and utility. This proposal is focused on providing higher fidelity communications simulations that incorporate diverse communication and sensor platform characteristics. We will develop a new adaptive communications-fusion architecture for the BMDS and provide scenario development and expanded missile flyout tools for the Benchmark simulation, along with advanced visualization. Options are also included for other MDA sections, which may be interested in use of ad hoc networking payloads applicable to MDA’s High Altitude Airship in future BMDS architectures, and modeling of those future architectures. Perhaps most important, SkySentry will assemble a cohesive team of experts from within the company and teammates from Lockheed Martin IS&S, Numerica Corporation, and SPARTA for long-term improvement to the C2BMC.

Keywords:
Benchmark, C2bmc, Measurement Level Fusion, Synthesis, Modeling And Simulation, Satellite Toolkit, Opnet, High Altitude Airships