Discrimination Damage Assessment

MARK Resources proposes to develop radar signal processing algorithms that provide capabilities for reliably assessing damage to targets in debris clouds and for determining its consequences on downrange discrimination. The damage assessment algorithms will employ a new radar resolution theory to find a damaged target in a debris cloud and extract its motion and detailed physical description (size and shape), including the nature of the damage (e.g., a torn-off segment, with the size and characteristics of the resultant cavity). The algorithms will apply both to an uprange radar assessing the result of an engagement and to a downrange radar identifying still viable targets. Algorithms will also be developed that, based on the detailed measurements of uprange damage, will determine any corruption of discriminants utilized downrange. Dependence of algorithm performance on radar bandwidth, wavelength, and PRF will be characterized. Lockheed Martin has joined us in this project, to help transition the damage assessment capability into the BMDS.