Reusable, Adaptable and Scalable Decision Aids Components for Future Combat Weapon System Applications

"A key technology hurdle for advanced weapon technology is that of Battle Damage Assessment and Retargeting (BDAR). In a recent experiment involving precision guided missiles, missiles could not distinguish between destroyed targets, and targets stillpresenting a threat. Typically, 6 missiles launched at 5 vehicles all hit the same target, leaving 4 undamaged vehicles. This led to shortages of missiles, and blue force casualties.BDAR will prevent 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. This feeds an effects control network, whichtargets precision weapons to defeat a target array. Initial targeting will distribute precision munitions appropriately by assigning the right number of munitions to the array. After launch, the munitions will begin to impact the target array, andsensors begin determining battle damage assessment. As the sensors determine that a target is destroyed, they will communicate this data to the effects control network to cause retargeting of in-flight munitions, or directly communicate with, andretarget, in-flight munitions.The decision aid will be a component of the MRAAS Fires architecture, and will be compliant with Appendix F, to the JTAA. The BDAR decision aid will be an answer to the current problem of expending scarce munitions on unprofitable targets.