Portable Range Threat Simulators

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Portable Range Threat Simulators"

Bathsheba Barber
6 years ago
Views:

1 Portable Range Threat Simulators Bill Williams Bill McClelland AAI Corporation Page 1

A typical test scenario: The aircraft (fixed or rotary) flies in a

-or - The antenna is fixed and the aircraft flies through the beam.

2 What are Range Threat Simulators? Range Simulators are open air threat simulators. A typical test scenario: The aircraft (fixed or rotary) flies in a pre-determined path. The Range simulator either tracks the target. -or - The antenna is fixed and the aircraft flies through the beam. The range simulator transmits threats. The aircraft and pilot countermeasures are verified / tested. Range tester types vary from large, expensive systems to small manportable systems. Page 2

3 Types of Range Simulators The following chart illustrates some design tradeoffs between various types of range simulators. Large simulators (highest cost) AAI PRTS (design goal) Lowest cost solutions Frequency range GHz (2.5 to 18GHz) ( GHz, 26-40GHz optional) 7-16GHz (in narrow band slices) Effective range >10 nmi ~1-2 nmi w/dual mode TWTA ~5 nmi w/higher power TWTA 5 nmi Effective radiated power (ERP) dbm dbm Band dependent dbm (narrow band) Pointing mechanism Radar, IFF,ACMI, Data Link Man in the loop steering Man in the loop steering Emitter generation Multiple emitters, CW & pulsed. Multiple techniques supported. CW & pulsed emitters, time interleaved emitters, multiple techniques supported Pulsed emitters only Narrow band solution Portability Prepared site, vehicle, trailer. 1 trailer or transit cases (for all implemented bands) Man-portable (in narrow band slices) Page 3

4 PRTS Proof of Concept Decision AAI Corporation met with end users to discuss the development of the portable range simulator. Users complained that many range testers are going away. End users have none at their site. Need a low cost alternative to larger range simulators. System is to use the Model 527 as the RF signal generator and timing control. The Model 527 has the spectral purity and modulation capabilities needed at the range test level. Other fielded RF signal sources ( squirt boxes ) were deemed not as capable by end users. Capabilities will be discussed later. Users already have the Model 527. Why pay for yet another RF stimulus source? Allows for a common emitter definition with Model 527, AN/USM-670, and Lab JSECST. Common stimulus source re-use of already existing emitters. Built-in vertical testability. Proof of concept prototype design to demonstrate basic capability. Page 4

5 PRTS Proof of Concept Prototype unit had one pulsed/cw TWTA. Frequency coverage of 6 to 18 GHz. System ERP of ~80 dbm (min) (~100 kwatts ERP). Power output of watts (min). Antenna selected for a gain of ~27 to 36 db over frequency. Model 527 used as RF generator. Provides full band frequency coverage. Full threat modulations including frequency, PRI, PW, and scan. Multiple emitter operation supporting up to eight time-multiplexed emitters. Common emitter and scenario definition software. Build Threat (discussed later) Build Scenario (discussed later) Hand Held Controller for remote operation. Page 5

scenarios Model 527 RF signal generator TWTA Pulse and CW 200 Watts > 100 KHz PRF Antenna

6 PRTS Prototype Prototype Hardware Block Diagram Control PROOF OF CONCEPT DESIGN RF High Power RF HHC RF Signal Generator TWTA PCMCIA card provides storage of threats and scenarios Model 527 RF signal generator TWTA Pulse and CW 200 Watts > 100 KHz PRF Antenna gain of ~27-36 db Hand held controller PCMCIA removable disk Software Build threat Build scenario Page 6

7 PRTS Proof of Concept Laboratory testing showed good spectral and time domain characteristics. Measured outputs of the TWTA: Replicated pulse widths of < 100 nsec. Replicated PRFs up to 100 KHz. Full amplitude modulations were measured. Based on laboratory results, a full scale Portable Range Threat Simulator design was begun. Page 7

8 PRTS Design A concept of operations (CONOP) was developed, using customer comments as a guide, as shown on the following slide. Two packaging options are considered. Portable shelter. Packaged in an environmental transit case. Provide full RF coverage from 2 to 18 GHz. Provide full pulse, frequency, and amplitude modulations. Continue with the Model 527 as the RF source. Provide synchronized EO/IR capability by controlling and triggering up to 4 EO/IR units. Support UV and IR test. Provide full TWT status monitoring and control for up to 8 TWTAs. Page 8

scenarios EO/IR testing support Test Design using PRTS Enter threat (emitter) definitions into Build Threat Enter test scenarios into Build Scenario Interior Equipment rack Power Combining Input

9 PRTS CON-OP OP Test Planning Identify Threats SA3, SA11, etc. Characterize Emitters Develop Test Scenarios Pulse characteristics Frequency characteristics Scan characteristics High ERP Multiple pulsed emitters Programmable pulse, frequency and scan Complex test scenarios EO/IR testing support Test Design using PRTS Enter threat (emitter) definitions into Build Threat Enter test scenarios into Build Scenario Interior Equipment rack Power Combining Input PCMCIA Disk Storage of emitters and scenarios High Pulsed Power Option High Pulsed Power Option GHz - 500W Isolator/load Control GHz - 500W Isolator/load Control Fully mobile shelter Enhanced Model 527 RF Stimulus Source Environmental shelter shown. Test Execution using PRTS Shelter option is shown. Another option stores the PRTS in ruggedized transit cases for transport using a mule or pickup truck. Mallina Environmentally controlled Air-conditioning, lights Self-contained power Power Distribution Page 9

10 PRTS Basic Configuration Portable environmental shelter. Internal instrument rack. Microwave distribution hardware. Coax cabling and WRD-650 waveguide components. (2) 200W TWTAs. Higher power is available. CW/Pulsed modes of operation GHz GHz Single feed, collapsible reflector antennas. 2 reflector antenna w/tripod and red dot scope. 3 collapsible reflector antenna w/tripod and red dot scope. Enhanced Model 527 radar test set w/mmw option. A Mallina with ruggedized tripod & laser range finder. Includes triggering and program support for Mallina EO/IR family. Portable 13kW generator. Ruggedized laptop as the primary control interface. Hand held controller (HHC) allows remote application of emitters and scenarios. Page 10

11 PRTS Basic Block Diagram Page 11

12 PRTS RF Signal Generator Capability Optional millimeter wave source Frequency range 28 to 40 GHz. Accuracy: 0.002% single emitter. Accuracy: 20 MHz multiple emitters. Resolution: < 500 KHz. -15dBc spurious, -10dBc harmonics. Frequency range: 0.5 to 18 GHz. Accuracy: 0.001% single emitter. Accuracy: 5 MHz multiple emitters. Resolution: < 500 KHz. Switching time: < 200 usec single emitter to 0.001% accuracy. < 1 usec to 5 MHz accuracy. -50dBc spurious, -10dBc harmonics. Intrapulse modulation. FM deviation rate ± 50MHz / 20usec. Bi-Phase: up to 32 chips. Chip width 100 nsec min. Pulse modulation. PRI range 1 usec (min). PW range 50 nsec (min) to CW. Rise/fall < 15nsec. Amplitude modulations. Range: 45 db ± 2dB. Rate: to 2 KHz. Supported types: Conical, raster, helical, sector, dwell, height finder, circular, palmer modification, orthogonal, LORO, spiral. Chip PW PRI AM Depth Chip Chip Page 12

13 PRTS RF Signal Generator External Support Flexible support to control and trigger external EO/IR testers. Built in support for external high power amplifiers Synchronized pulse triggers for external TWTAs. Automated external power alignment of TWTAs. No need for external software. Architecture allows for complex RF/EO/IR testing scenarios. Mallina: UV testing offers standoff ranges in excess of 5 km. Phoenix: IR testing. Mallina w/ Nemesis: Directed infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) tester. Stimulate missile warner (UV or IR) Detects and measures IR countermeasures. Synchronized pulse triggers support Mallina family. Can program/control up to four (4) of these devices, in any combination. Full software support built into PRTS system. UV Mallina IR Phoenix Mallina w/ Nemesis Page 13

14 PRTS Software PRTS Software Page 14

15 PRTS Software Architecture Remote PRTS Control Build Communications Controller Hardware TWT Status and Control PRTS design has a common execution executive that provides monitoring and/or control of: RF Signal Source. External TWTA status and emergency shutdown. Hand held controller interface (remote operation). External EO/IR programming and triggering. Build Emitter Build Threat Console The Build portion of the executive is key to simple threat and scenario definition. Emitter (threats) defined using a simple, graphical user interface. Build threat and build scenario. Discussed more fully on the following slides. Page 15

16 PRTS Build / Execute Process Build emitters and emitter library. Save emitters to files. Non-proprietary text format. Common format to existing AN/USM-670 and Lab JSECST. Build emitter sequences. Single or multiple emitters per sequence. Multiple sequences define a scenario. Select background emitters. Execute emitter or scenario. Timed Timed loop. Single step. Page 16

Full pulse, frequency, scan, and antenna models supported. Full error checking.

17 PRTS Build Environment Simplified Threat Development Build Threat Program Easy to use interface for creating and simulating complex threats. Full pulse, frequency, scan, and antenna models supported. Full error checking. Build Scenario Program Simple interface for defining what threats are applied, for how long, and in what sequence. Page 17

18 PRTS Build Threat Programming the Identification Model Color coded error checking Page 18

19 PRTS Build Threat PW / PRI Models Agile Jitter Random Stable Doublet Triplet User Chirp Visual feedback on parameters Data entry checking Page 19

20 PRTS Build Threat Programming the Frequency Models Agile Dwell Jitter Random Stable Stagger Page 20

21 PRTS Build Threat Programming the Scan Models Circular Conical Dwell Height Helical LORO Orthogonal Raster Sector Spiral Scan patterns can be simulated. Page 21

22 PRTS Build Threat Programming the Antenna Models Azimuth Elevation Side lobes Page 22

23 Emitters and Scenarios Once emitters are developed, they may be saved and then applied one at a time to the SUT. However A truer test of an EC system may require multiple emitters, applied in a specific order, and changing in a defined way. A scenario mode is required to meet this test requirement. Page 23

24 Scenarios Scenarios allow the user to build realistic threat situations. For example, the following scenario illustrates a search, then track, then launch with missile guidance. THREAT SEARCH MODE BAND 1 PROGRAMMABLE DELAY SCENARIO THREAT TRACK MODE BAND 1 PROGRAMMABLE DELAY THREAT LAUNCH MISSILE GUIDANCE BAND 2 Page 24

25 Scenarios EO/IR threats may be simulated. For example, the following scenario illustrates a search, then track, then launch with a simulated missile plume signature. RF THREAT SEARCH MODE PROGRAMMABLE DELAY SCENARIO RF THREAT TRACK MODE PROGRAMMABLE DELAY RF THREAT LAUNCH MISSILE TRACK IR THREAT MISSILE PLUME Page 25

26 PRTS Build Scenario Develop a sequence of single or multiple emitters. Up to 8 pulsed emitters more possible using the user defined PRI/PW mode in Build Threat. An example programming example shown on the right. Rather than allocate three generators to the three emitters, one generator can be used if the three emitters are defined using User Defined PRI/PW with a Stagger Frequency model. Emitter 1 Emitter 2 Emitter 3 Three emitters simulated using user-defined PRI and stagger frequency. F1 F1 F2 F2 F3 F3 Repeat PRI 1 PRI 2 PRI 3 F1 F2 F3 F1 F2 F3 Insert emitters from emitter library, or build new emitters. Assign duration time. Assign relative power of emitters. Assign run modes. Support for background emitters. This provides for a realistic threat dense environment. A truer test of the RWR/Jammer s ability to correctly process in a high pulse count environment. Full editing capabilities. Scenario files are saved as text files. Page 26

27 PRTS Build Scenario Programming the Sequence and Scenarios The sequence (2 shown) The scenario within a sequence. In this case 2 emitters Page 27

28 Testing Scenarios The PRTS can be used as a squadron or base level training tool. No need to fly to an EW range for training. Cost and time savings. Can train more often. Examples include Multiple PRTSs configured to support multiple threat engagement scenarios. Two or more PRTS w/mallinas can simulate multiple MANPAD engagements. PRTS used in Naval applications for testing shipboard ESM when leaving the harbor or anchored off-shore. Page 28

29 PRTS and Vertical Testability Common RF stimulus architecture with: Model 527 used for end of runway testing. AN/USM-670 used for O-level test of EC systems. Lab JSECST or AN/USM-670 used in the Depot. Common emitter / scenario development tools. Emitters built on the PRTS can run on these other systems and vice-versa. Build and validate once run anywhere Flight Testing PRTS End-Of-Runway Model 527 or AN/USM-670 O-Level I-Level or Backshop Depot Lab Vertical Testability Common Emitters and Scenarios Common Stimulus Hardware AN/USM-670 LAB JSECST Page 29

30 Summary Range testers must account for ever increasing complexities in threat scenarios. Multiple, frequency/time agile emitters. Correlated threats. High band / low band. RF and EO/IR. AAIs Portable Range Threat Simulator provides a low cost solution to full frequency coverage range simulators. The PRTS leverages on our experience in the development of flightline and depot EW test. Provides the user with alternatives for meeting his training requirements. The user is not tied to EW range testing. The PRTS is the newest member of AAIs common core of flightline test equipment. Lab JSECST AN/USM-670 Model 527 PRTS Page 30

31 Thank You! Questions? Page 31

The Old Cat and Mouse Game Continues

The Old Cat and Mouse Game Continues or, How Advances in Radar Development Drive Testing Requirements for Next Generation EW Systems by: Walt Schulte Agilent Technologies Microwave and Communications Division