Multi-tiered debris and clutter mitigation for BMD radar signal processors

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes a multi-tiered, object-based approach to clutter and debris suppression during BMD engagements. Using PSI’s radar scene generator (developed as part of Aegis BMD RF KA efforts), models and test results for clutter and debris, and an innovative radar signal processing chain, improvements to the current and future generations of missile defense radars and sensors will be demonstrated and tested for effectiveness and robustness. The proposed innovations are intended to be applicable to current BMDS radar signal processing architectures, and include modifications to the front-end IQ data processing, pulse integration, the detection processing, and the tracker. A multi-tiered approach is necessary to ensure that that methods proposed are robust to a broad spectrum of clutter and debris, including staging debris/motor chuff during the ascent phase, chaff and other countermeasures, and post-intercept debris (of interest for kill assessment and raid scenarios) during the endgame. The two key metrics for success of the proposed approaches for the Phase I will be enhanced detection of the lethal object with a simultaneous reduction in the total false alarm rate, and an improved ability to form and maintain firm tracks on the lethal object in a clutter and debris dense environment.