Shock Hardened High Bandwidth Through Media Transmission Technology

Penetrator bomb damage assessment is particularly difficult to perform since traditional visual reconnaissance methods do not reveal damage below the surface. The AFRL is currently engaged in developing a survivable, low-bandwidth transmitter that will be capable of real-time delivery of penetrator bomb fuze sensor data. This low-bandwidth system will provide the first new tool in the assessment of penetrator bomb damage. The proposed project seeks to investigate advanced technology for the development of a high data rate Penetrator Bomb Damage Assessment System (PBDAS). The data rate is specified at 250,000 bits per second minimum, with transmission through an aggregate soil and concrete media, while experiencing shock loads of up to 20,000 g. A further goal is to evaluate the implementation of a command and control (C2) link to the bomb-mounted components for use during flight and penetration time. Penetrator bomb C2 offers the opportunity for remote arming/disarming, command destruct, sensor control, return sensor data selection, and weapon operational status requests. It is even possible this capability could be used to interrogate unexploded ordnance. See the proposal for more detail.