Plume EO-RCS Data Fusion

Characteristics of missile plume UV/Visible emissions & RCS have a great potential to enhance defensive capabilities in several areas related to Ballistic Missile Defense Systems (BMDS). Supporting MDA’s engineering applications related to missile typing, discrimination, tracking, algorithm development, etc. requires estimation of many parameters by the plume models, which can be very expensive for complex targets that are not easily measured. High-fidelity, 3D plume modeling of threat systems is now at an advanced stage, utilizing a MDA-sponsored highly efficient, 3D CFD plume models; however, comparable capabilities are not available for corresponding RCS predictions and additional limitations exist with regards to plasma chemistry modeling for supporting predictions of UV/Visible emission from plume chemi-ionization. The Phase I will demonstrate an advanced 3D Vector Finite Element (VFE) RCS model for performing RCS predictions of 3D effects in plumes, which can strongly shift the Doppler spectrum of the plume from the hardbody return. A recently developed hydrocarbon chemistry mechanism will be extended to include CH(A) plasma modeling, enabling the application of first-principles plume signature modeling in supporting the exploitation of chemi-ionization processes. The Phase I provides a firm foundation for maturation of plume EO/RCS modeling tools into a production-oriented capability during Phase II.