Passive Millimeter Wave Radiometer (PMMR) for Earlier Missile Launch Detection

"Current and projected ballistic missile launch detection systems (DSP, SBIRS, ABL) depend on infrared detection of the hot rocket plume, which delays launch detection until the rocket rises above any cloud deck. Dynamics Technology, Inc. (DTI) proposes toevaluate an airborne passive millimeter wave radiometer (PMMR) system that would be able to detect launches without having to wait for cloud break, thereby minimizing the time latency in launch detection, and improving the chances of boost phase intercept.Candidate platforms for the PMMR sensor include the Airborne Laser (ABL), JSTARS, AWACS, Global Hawk and high altitude airships. During Phase I, DTI will identify the operational requirements and CONOPS for the notional PMMR system, conduct a system designtradeoff study to define the system architecture and key system parameter values, assess the feasibility of deploying a PMMR system that meets the operational requirements on an airborne platform(s), and define a detailed Phase II plan for the furtherdevelopment of an airborne PMMR missile launch detection system. The airborne PMMR system will provide an all-weather, day/night capability to detect theater ballistic missile launches, and thus augment existing infrared sensing systems used for missilelaunch detection and tracking. The PMMR would detect the intense heat of the missile launch plume and alert a boost phase intercept system (e.g. ABL) of a launch, which would result in