Anchoring Post-Intercept Debris Prediction Tools

As MDA continues implementation of the Phased Adaptive Approach (PAA), robust operation of BMDS sensors within post-intercept debris environments will become more critical to successful operation of the larger BMDS. Due to a paucity of test data, development and performance testing of BMDS sensors in these dense debris environments must rely heavily on M & S capabilities. Several post-intercept debris prediction tools exist, although their ability to model high-velocity (>3 km/s) intercepts of complex threats and Non-Lethal Objects is not adequately vetted due to insufficient test data at these closing speeds. In order to fill this gap, flight test data at tactical closing speeds need to be better utilized for validation of M & S tools. Remote RF/IR sensor data collections are useful, but in situ data collections interrogating discrete debris pieces would provide more precise metric data for validation purposes. Here, we propose a debris tagging concept that would allow us to record essential data (e.g. velocity, size, temperature, etc.) for the largest target debris pieces created during these collisions. These data would then be used to validate post-intercept debris prediction tools in the phase space of interest for the BMDS.