SEA SKIMMING, ANTI-SHIP CRUISE MISSILES POSE AN INCREASING THREAT TO NAVAL FORCES, AS EVIDENCED BY THE FALKLAND WAR CASUALTIES.

SEA SKIMMING, ANTI-SHIP CRUISE MISSILES POSE AN INCREASING THREAT TO NAVAL FORCES, AS EVIDENCED BY THE FALKLAND WAR CASUALTIES. TSC PROPOSES A NEW CONCEPT FOR OTH DETECTION, WARNING AND TRACKING: A NETOF EXPENDABLE HF (HIGH FREQUENCY: 3-30 MHZ) RADARS OPERATING IN THE GROUND WAVE MODE, INSTALLED IN EITHER SONOBUOY-SIZED BUOYS OR IN SMALLRPV'S, AND LOCATED 30 TO 70 NMI FROM THE TASK FORCE. THE HF SYSTEM USES ITS TRANSMITTER FOR BOTH RADAR DETECTION AND COMMUNICATION BACK TO THE TASK FORCE; NO AIRBORNE RELAY IS REQUIRED. MONOSTATIC AND BISTATIC RADAR CONFIGURATIONS ARE POSSIBLE, USING RANGE AND DOPPLER SIGNAL PROCESSING. A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE FOR MONOSTATIC RADAR DETECTION RANGE IS 16 NMI FROM EACH BUOY OR RPV. PHASE I WILL ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF USING HF RADAR BUOYS AND RPV'S FOR OTH MISSILE DEFENSE. SPECIFIC TASKS INCLUDE 1) OPTIMIZED MONOSTATIC/BISTATIC RADAR AND COMMUNICATION ARCHITECTURE AND PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT; 2) BUOY, RPV AND TARGET LOCATION AND TRACKING TECHNIQUES; 3) ASSESSMENT OF SYSTEM COMPLEXITY, SHIPBOARD INTERFACES AND COST; 4) ECM VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS; AND 5) IDENTIFICATION OF CRITICAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUES, AND METHODS TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES THROUGH RESEARCH AND TEST PROGRAMS.