Fluctuating Intensity Early Launch Detection Simulation (FIELDS)

A data-driven model of missile exhaust plume intensity fluctuations near launch is proposed. The model provides the rms magnitude, frequency dependence and spectral band dependence of the intensity fluctuation power spectral density (PSD). Itsapplication is the missile signature component of the end-to-end Fluctuating Intensity Early Launch Detection Simulation (FIELDS). Additional components of FIELDS will include atmospheric and cloud attenuation, background descriptions, sensor and platformproperties, and detection algorithms. The objective is to develop overall system requirements to exploit fluctuating plume intensity for early detection, track, and identification of missile launches. Phase I is development of a data-driven model of theintensity fluctuations with the objective of extrapolating existing measurements to other missiles, observational conditions and spectral bands. The model exploites high temporal framerate (13-100 kHz) VIS-NIR measurements of a variety of missile plumesduring launch and static tests collected by the MDA Innovative Sciences and Technology Experimentation Facility (ISTEF). Correct accounting for missile geometry, propellants, altitude, velocity, aspect, and spectral band is accomplished with the two MDAPhase II SBIR programs