Data Fusion for Ballistic Missile Defense

This project will address two, interrelated problems: developing advanced fusion technology, and demonstrating data-fusion's importance to the National and Theater Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) missions. Using primarily internal funds, we have implemented an experimental version of an innovative approach to BMD data-fusion. The program, called the Data Fusion Correlation Algorithm (DFCA), is installed in the SHIELD spaces of the Joint National Test Facility at Falcon Air Force Base, Colorado. It has been demonstrated in four NMD flight tests. We believe that the DFCA's innovative approach to sensor-fusion represents a quantum improvement over traditional approaches, but that the approach cannot be properly demonstrated with a laboratory model thrust prematurely into an operational setting. We propose, during Phase I, to design and implement algorithm enhancements which are critical for the environment in which the DFCA is being asked to perform, and then to demonstrate the enhanced capabilities using data from previous flight tests. In Phase II, we would continue enhancing the DFCA to meet operational requirements, and demonstrate its performance, in a wider variety of scenarios, during live tests and demonstrations.