Missile Warning System Development Simulation Tools For Rapid Technology Insertion

The development of IR/EO missile warning system (MWS) and visible detection system (VDS) technologies/systems is expensive and time-consuming because of the heavy reliance on open air range testing. Man/hardware-in-the-loop laboratory simulation can immerse these technologies/systems in a realistic, multispectral, synthetic battlespace providing a cost-effective methodology to rapidly evolve/mature these technologies/systems. The objective of this research is to develop/demonstrate an innovative reconfigurable testbed capability for evolving/maturing MWS/VDS technologies/systems through man/hardware-in-the-loop synthetic battlespace simulation. The focus of the development is on reconfigurable processors, related interface hardware, and visible stimulation. This is critical for MWS and VDS systems because the effectiveness of the detection, discrimination, tracking/declaration algorithms is crucial to MWS and VDS performance. In Phase I, an innovative reconfigurable testbed concept was developed that leverages existing commercial off-the-shelf hardware to provide a reconfigurable, real-time algorithm MWS/VDS testbed and a visible stimulation capability. Phase II will implement/demonstrate the testbed concept consisting of a Reconfigurable Processor System (RPS), the associated Reconfigurable Sensor Interface Module (RSIM), and the visible stimulation integrated with a Real-time IR/EO Scene Simulator (RISS). These innovative capabilities will enable MWS/VDS technologies/systems to be rapidly evolved/matured to meet military and commercial requirements for low cost missile warning systems and visible systems.