Understanding HEL Effects on RF Seekers through Adaptive Testing, Proxy Model Creation, and Integration with Mission Level Simulations

The United States Air Force (USAF) faces significant challenges in evaluating system performance of actively tracking radio frequency (RF) seeker systems subject to high energy laser (HEL) irradiation. Rapidly evolving technologies and the complexity and cost of testing can lead to gaps in knowledge regarding current system behaviors. Understanding the potential operational implications of both blue and red future systems is an even more complex challenge. There is little data available characterizing the impact of the use of HEL systems when employed to interfere with RF seeker systems. The USAF needs 1) a testing framework that can gather maximal data from minimal tests, 2) fast running, highly accurate, predictive models that can be trained on test data to predict the effects of HEL weapons on RF seeker systems, and 3) mission level models that can be combined with these predictive models to understand the impact of HEL systems in operational scenarios. OptTek Systems, Inc. (OptTek) is proposing a set of proven technologies that can be combined and applied to this problem along with an experienced team that has the background and expertise to achieve these goals. The team proposed to address this critical USAF need consists of OptTek, Infoscitex, Starwin Industries, and ARA.  Working with USAF stakeholders, the OptTek team will leverage its previous experience with testing, RF systems, AI/ML, modeling, and simulation to provide a proof-of-concept demonstration that links test data to a fast-running Kriging-based predictive proxy model to an AFSIM mission level simulation. The team will also provide a Phase 2 testing framework that adaptively select tests to execute that provide the data needed to maximize model prediction accuracy with minimal tests.