Performance Testing of Existing RF Seeker for Hypersonic Electromagnetic Rail Gun (EMRG) Projectiles

Radio Frequency (RF) offers many advantages over Electro-Optical/Infrared for seekers on hypersonic electromagnetic rail guns (EMRG) launched interceptors, but has not been used due to the small aperture limited by the projectile diameter. Tanner Research has overcome this limitation with the endfire antenna, with an aperture that depends on its length, making it ideal for projectile platforms. Tanner has been developing RF seekers for hypersonic projectiles launched from EMRGs. In Phase I, Tanner proposes to leverage the existing design and hardware implementation of the RF seeker, advancing to the next level demonstrating the accuracy with which the RF seeker can estimate the target location. Using Tanner"s existing RF seeker hardware, a Prime team-member"s test facilities will recreate the RF conditions of a hypersonic engagement and intercept, to exercise the seeker"s target location algorithm, collecting data of seeker performance that is essential to 3/6DOF simulations that show hypersonic interceptor mission-level performance. Approved for Public Release 13-MDA-7631 (18 November 13).