Hypervelocity Intercept Modeling with First-Principle, Physics-Based Tools

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has become more reliant on First Principles Model and Simulation to assess the effectiveness of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). This is due in part to the continued growth in cost and schedule for ground based testing program that have traditionally been used for such assessments. Results from the Phase I SBIR, MDA-073-019 SBIR, Hypervelocity Intercept Modeling with First-Principle, Physics Based Tools, showed a path to a robust fast-running high fidelity first principle physics based tool for conducting intercept analyses across the BMDS. It is our vision that the use of these fast turnaround first principle tools will provide intercept debris data sets that will be incorporated into the Kinetic Impact Debris Distribution Model (KIDD). To accomplish this, the tools need to provide accurate debris data for a variety of intercept conditions. They should be robust, easy to use, and provide quick run times so that the debris information can be incorporated into a database framework.