State and Trajectory Optimization for Real-time Range Extension (STORRE)

With conflicts in recent years in Afghanistan and Iraq, and security activities in support of Allies around the world, the US has not faced a peer, or near peer rival in decades. The Peoples Republic of China’s (PRC) military modernization over the last decades has brought it closer to the US’s capability levels, and in many cases focused on directly countering traditional US tactical advantages and priorities (e.g. air superiority). US combat strategy relies on sustained control of the airspace to strike key installations, address long range threats to our ground troops, and support said ground troops execution of their missions. The US is also reliant on naval power and resupply as well, necessitating control of the airspace to safely resupply its forward bases and troops. Recognizing this, the PRC has established a deeply layered anti-access / denial area (A2/DA) network extending 1000nm from its shores in three layers (0-270nm, 270-540nm, and 540-1000nm). The likely target of PRC control/efforts, Taiwan, is well within the closest defensive layer ~70-90nm from the mainland. In addition, key US allies in the area, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, are themselves within at least the furthest defensive level. This puts many of the US’s usual bases of operation/resupply within the range of varied PRC weapons that include surface and air launched missiles, ballistic missiles, and submarines.Systems Technology, Inc. (STI), the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK), and Pennsylvania State University (PSU) and consultant Mr. Shawn Donley, in support of tactical combat aircraft range improvements, enabled via optimal trajectory guidance and drag reduction methodologies made possible by unique state estimation methods, propose to create the State and Trajectory Optimization for Real-time Range Extension (STORRE) toolkit. STORRE will provide an unobtrusive, low overhead methodology to determine optimal trajectory behaviors via selectable autopilot paths in the cockpit and automated control surface adjustments. STI and PSU on a completed Phase I STTR, have assembled the ARTEASE toolset that provides accurate aircraft state estimates in flight, including that of non-traditional state information (center of gravity (c.g.), weight, etc.). ARTEASE has demonstrated the ability of this algorithm to accurately (0-2% error) estimate aircraft c.g. values from five seconds of pitch attitude sensor data. UTK has demonstrated that its advanced optimization approaches, applying computational optimal control and convex optimization methods to solve complex trajectory problems, generate solutions faster and with equivalent or better accuracy than leading optimal trajectory techniques. The advanced state estimation techniques of ARTEASE, coupled with the proven capabilities of UTK’s trajectory optimization schemes, and Mr. Donley’s extensive experience with the F/A-18E/F flight control system, are expected to offer significant range benefits to US aircraft.