CV FIXED WING AIRCRAFT TRACKING AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM

THE LANDING OF AIRCRAFT ABOARD CARRIERS AT SEA IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS OF MILITARY OPERATIONS. THE DANGER IS COMPOUND MANY-FOLD WHEN RECOVERIES ARE CARRIED OUT AT NIGHT DURING EMCON CONDITIONS. WITHOUT THE SHIP'S RADAR OR FREE RADIO COMMUNICATION WITH PILOTS, A SHIP-BASED SENSOR IS REQUIRED THAT CAN GIVE GLIDE SLOPE INFORMATION TO THE LSO AS WELL AS ALLOW VERIFICATION OF AIRCRAFT TYPE AND LANDING CONFIGURATION. DCS PROPOSES TO EXAMINE TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT WHICHCAN PROVIDE THE NECESSARY LANDING DATA AND TO RECOMMEND THE MOST PROM-ISING SOLUTIONS. THIS WILL BE DONE BY FIRST EXAMING CURRENT OPERATIONS AND THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE CARTS (FLIR/LASER) SYSTEM. ALTERNATIVES TO CARTS, SUCH AS OTHER DESIGNS OR OPERATIONAL USES, AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES (MMW, LIDAR) WILL THEN BE ANALYZED. DCS WILL PERFORM ENGINEERING TRADE STUDIES TO EVALUATE CANDIDATE SOLUTIONS FOR PERFORMANCE, COST DEVELOPMENT RISK (MATURITY) AND LIFE CYCLE SUPPORT CONSIDERATIONS. AN OPTIMIZED SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE WILL BE HYPOTHESIZED TO MEET REQUIREMENTS FOR A LONG RANGE NIGHTTIME LANDING AID SYSTEM.