Debris Assessment from Spectrally Diverse Sensors and Air Sample to Aid Post-Intercept Weapons Typing

A critical need for the ballistic missile defense system (BMDS) is the determination of the warhead type contained within the intercepted threat. Knowledge of warhead type is essential for effective consequence mitigation and determining the National Command Authority response to the threat. Since missile defense threat scenarios include attacks on theater assets and our allies, the BMDS architecture must address the perceived risks of harmful fallout from intercepting potential WMD threats near host nations or in allied airspace. This SBIR effort will focus on WMD typing challenges for theater and regional threat scenarios where multiple defensive elements (ABL, SM-3, THAAD, PAC-3) may have opportunities for threat engagement. The capability to confidently confirm that certain WMDs were or were not present in an engaged threat complex will be key to alleviating concerns by our deployed forces and allies about the these complex engagement decisions. Due to cost and hazards of direct tests with WMD materials, the research will include fusion of data and sensors information from sources not typically available on current BMDS flight tests. Development will lead to cost effective enhancements to the C2BMC situational awareness for the warfighter on the nature of actual missile threat being engaged.