Battle Damage Assessment and Retargeting

Battle Damage Assessment and Retargeting (BDAR) is a key technology hurdle for precision guided missile targeting. In an April 2003 experiment at Redstone Arsenal, precision guided missiles could not distinguish between destroyed targets, and targetsstill presenting a threat. Typically, 6 missiles launched at 5 vehicles all hit the same target, leaving 4 undamaged vehicles. This caused shortages of missiles, and blue force casualties.BDAR prevents this scenario. BDAR performs real time sensor fusion, battle damage assessment, and retargeting of in-flight precision munitions. In the BDAR concept, sensors provide initial targeting data to an effects control network, which targetsprecision weapons against a target array. Initial targeting distributes precision munitions by assigning the right number and type to the array. As munitions begin hitting the target array, sensors begin determining battle damage. As sensors determine atarget is destroyed, they communicate this data to the effects control network causing retargeting of in-flight munitions, or directly communicate with and retarget in-flight munitions.In Phase I, CHI Systems developed the design and initial algorithms for BDAR. In Phase II, the technology will be implemented as a component of the ARDEC Combat Decision Aiding System (CDAS) architecture, and be compliant with the JTA-A.The BDAR decision aid will be an answer to the current problem of expending scarce munitions on unprofitable targets. Complete implementation of the decision aid during Phase II of the effort is intended to take place within the context of the CDASprogram and will support FCS netted fires technology requirements. The concepts and implementations will serve as a technical base for technology insertion into a number of Army Science and Technology Objective (STO) programs, such as the RDECfederation 1stApp experiments, which support technology development and simulation for Objective Force netted fires operations. The decision aid component can also be applied to civilian domains such as stock quoting, logistics management, and policeoperations.