Maneuvering Target Phenomenology

Modeling of missile plume signature emissions play a crucial role in supporting system-oriented studies in a number of important areas related to detection and identification of the rocket motor during high altitude maneuvers. Examples of these areas include early warning systems, post launch warning detection, missile typing algorithms, discrimination and background clutter discrimination. The goal of proposed Phase II effort is the development of a first-principle, high fidelity model for simulation of plume signatures for"real-world"maneuvering long-range (strategic) Threat Ballistic Missiles (TBM) during their ascent phase at high altitudes. This model, entitled High Altitude Model for Maneuvering Rocket Plume Signatures (HAMMRS), will be derived by integration of MDA-supported, well-validated CFD and DSMC plume codes, as well as the necessary Non-Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (NLTE) thermochemistry and Infra-Red (IR), Ultra-Violet (UV), Visible (Vis) Signature models, within a new simulation architecture that is optimized for unsteady applications. At the conclusion of Phase II, HAMMRS will have been systematically validated against full-scale flight data. Its utility in supporting MDA"s initiatives in Kinetic Energy Interceptors (KEI) will have been demonstrated by its application to liquid and solid propellant fueled threat targets.