Reactive Discrimination - A New CCM Technique

A Counter-Counter Measure (CCM) technique is proposed for Missile Defense (MD) which can provide discrimination of balloons and possibly other decoys in the presence of a Re-Entry Vehicle (RV). The concept is based on the use of a new class of highlyenergetic reactive materials, which can be used as a cloud which becomes reactive upon impact with decoys. This phenomenon causes an intrinsic reaction of the cloud particles and further reaction with the balloon surface causing abrupt gasification at theinterface. This may cause the destruction of the balloon or, as a minimum, change its balloon velocity, both being detectable events by radar discrimination capabilities. A variation of the reactive materials can serve as part of the structure ofmini-interceptors or as lethality enhancers capable of destroying balloons,other decoys in midcourse and damaging RV's to the point where failure will follow upon re-entry. The development of this concept will provide MDA several options in MD and otherapplications. These include reactive discrimination and lethality enhancement of hit-to-kill as well as shoot-to-kill interceptors such as THAAD or MEADS. Other DoD Agencies will benefit in terms of enhanced lethality projectiles and soft-kill optionssuch as sensor blinding of enemy missiles. Commercial applications are mine defeat and oil exploration. Funds for mine neutralization have already been committed by the commercial sector and the Army - Ft. Belvoir(see later section for details).