Description:
OBJECTIVE: Develop air-to-air targeting algorithms for a turreted gun systems such as found on AH-64D helicopter (Reference 1) that could use impact, proximity and airburst fused rounds. The application of this technology applies to helicopters, ground vehicles and ships. This system will increase accuracy against air targets and ground targets, thereby reducing collateral damage and increasing survivability. DESCRIPTION: This effort will focus on the development of air-to-air targeting algorithms for a turreted gun systems such as found on the AH-64D helicopter (Reference 1) that could use impact, proximity and airburst fused rounds. The application of this technology applies to other helicopters, ground vehicles and ships. (References 2,3,4) Critical technical measures to be demonstrated include system accuracy against air targets that is equivalent to current ground targets engagements. Continuing development of airborne threats has increased risk for military rotorcraft. Development of air to air targeting algorithms for a stabilized turreted gun systems has not kept pace with technology and improvements are needed to be effective against aerial systems. Military helicopters use machine guns as offensive and defensive weapons against air and ground targets. Some guns are mounted on remotely operated turrets aimed by the pilot using head / eye trackers (AH-64, AH-1, soon MV- 22), some are mounted on swiveling pintles and are aimed manually by crew members (door / window guns on UH-60, MV-22, UH-1, CH-53). All have challenges in targeting airborne targets where the target is moving rapidly in three directions. Aircraft state, recoil, round ballistics, winds, target state estimators, tracking system, targeting sensor accuracy, GPS location, laser ranging, pointing accuracies, turret errors, target speed and target maneuverability all contribute to error in targeting solution. New air to air targeting algorithm approaches need to account for all these errors to increase the accuracy against airborne targets. Turreted guns provide great operational flexibility by allowing off-axis shots in virtually any direction, but they have limitations on accuracy for maneuvering airborne targets. The standard of performance for aerial gunnery from an AH-64D is to achieve at least one hit out of 30 shots fired at a wheeled vehicle between 800 1200m distant (Reference 5). Given the performance demonstrated in references 6 and 7, it is reasonable to think that improvements in air-to-air accuracy could be equivalent to current air-to-ground targets engagements. Given the vast reduction in potential for collateral damage, the system will pay for itself after 2 or 3 instances of the pilot using the gun rather than an expensive air-to-air missile. PHASE I: The Contractor will determine the feasibility of developing air-to-air targeting algorithms for a turreted gun systems such as found on AH-64D helicopter (Reference 1) that could use impact, proximity and airburst fused rounds. The Phase I effort will take into account time based information and associated errors related to aircraft state, aircraft location error, sensor error, target location error, laser range error, winds to target, ballistic table for round, round fragmentation shape, intelligence of target type, target tracking error, gun pointing error, gun dynamics, GPS and INS error on aircraft, GPS and INS error on gun, millimeter wave radar data and error, sensor and gun motor delays, recoil, target state estimators, tracking system, targeting sensor accuracy, GPS location, pointing accuracies, turret errors, target speed and target maneuverability (Ground and Air). The Phase I effort approach to software development will be in a modular approach (Plug and Play) for parameters identified above and allow for variance in time based information and associated errors. The software approach and architecture should be compatible with the Joint Multi-Role (JMR) system (Reference 8 and 9). Successful algorithm designs shall achieve air-to-air accuracy equivalent to current air-to-ground targets engagements with graceful degradation if the above parameters change or become inaccurate. PHASE II: The contractor shall demonstrate the performance in a high fidelity simulation (preferably hardware-in-the-loop) and ground-based tests of firing accuracy from a moving ground platform (vehicle or motion-base) shall be done at a minimum. At the end of Phase II the live fire performance of the system shall be demonstrated to the Government. Technology Readiness Level, TRL 6 - System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment PHASE III: This technology addresses two of the DoD"s fundamental operational requirements; to perform airborne missions against airborne threats, and to minimize collateral damage. It will benefit helicopters, ground vehicles and ships. The technology can be used by both civilian and military sectors to improve tracking of objects with multiple inputs and increase the accuracy to the tracking. Police, Coast Guard and Border Patrol could use the technology to track persons or objects of interest.
