BAA-09-01-PKS-Call45-SOO.doc

02 February 2012

Along Track Interferometry (ATI) Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI)

Statement of Objectives (SOO)

STROEB II BAA, 09-01-PKS, Call 45

1. Background Effective reconnaissance and surveillance in a military setting requires the detection and location of moving targets day or night and in all weather conditions. Airborne sensors using microwave radiation are often used to detect and locate moving targets as they are able to operate in such conditions, to observe large areas of terrain and to provide rapid revisit rates to previously observed areas. To detect moving targets these sensors, using a mode called Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI), require adequate target return signal as well as a target velocity component in the direction of the sensor. Further complicating the detection of moving targets is the presence of high reflectivity clutter such as mountainous terrain or urban structures.

The foregoing requirements have driven the design of current GMTI systems to high power, large aperture configurations needing large platforms to carry them. Moreover, these current approaches have limited effectiveness against the moving targets of primary interest for this effort – dismount targets (i.e., people on foot). Dismounts are generally more difficult to detect and locate than vehicles because they tend to be smaller, move slower and remain concealed by the clutter environment. Further, the need for the target to have a velocity component in the direction of the sensor to separate it from the clutter means that single platform solutions will be ineffective when the target is moving parallel to the sensor. Multiple platforms arranged in an appropriate manner can increase the effective field of regard for the sensor system.

Along Track Interferometry (ATI) is a promising technique for the detection and location of dismounts in the environments discussed above. ATI has long been studied for use in geological remote sensing and more recently for use against dismounts. ATI techniques perform by comparing images collected from the same point in space but at different times. To achieve this time delay requires at least two independent antenna phase centers (channels) separated by a physical distance called the baseline. When one such image is subtracted from another then stationary returns such as clutter will cancel while moving targets such as dismounts will cause a phase change in the received signal from one image to the next which can be detected. The minimum detectable velocity that the ATI can detect improves with the length of the baseline which in turn also points to multiple platform solutions since it is difficult for single platforms to have long enough baselines to detect and locate slow movers such as dismounts.

Further, the use of advanced waveforms and spatial diversity coupled with ATI has potential to increase ATI baselines while improving area coverage rates compared to single platform solutions. Moreover, multiple platforms, especially of the smaller Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) types provide greater flexibility and agility for access to difficult environments with limited site lines and variable terrain such as mountains.

2. Objectives The main objectives of this effort are to provide concept refinement, preliminary and detailed system design, system fabrication/integration, flight test, and verification of performance predictions via modeling and simulation and data processing for a sensor system capable of detecting and locating dismount targets in mountainous (primary) and urban (secondary) terrain, day and night, in all weather conditions.

The system will push the performance in terms of minimum detectable velocity, location accuracy, instantaneous field of view (i.e., the span of observation angles from which a target can be successfully detected and located), and area revisit rates. The effort will include flight testing and data processing to demonstrate proof-of-concept to a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of TRL 6: System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment.

3. Scope The scope of the Along Track Interferometry GMTI technology covers radar-based surveillance of slow moving ground targets. The ATI-GMTI program will encompass the full suite of operational modes for advanced radar systems. The ATI-GMTI program will develop radar system techniques that can be inserted throughout the sensor life cycle stage from design, development and deployment to sustainment. After deployment continuing technique development will be required to implement technological advances and respond to changing ground target deployments. This development process will include concepts and analysis of candidate radar techniques, along with modeling and simulation, and laboratory, field, and flight testing.

4. Description of the Effort The effort will be comprised of two phases. Phase I (basic effort) includes concept refinement, trade study, and preliminary design. Phase II (option) includes detailed design, system fabrication/integration, and flight test and evaluation including verification of performance predictions. The contractor should follow Systems Engineering principles in the conduct of this effort.

Please note the following: The focus of this effort is on the design and implementation of signal processing and waveform design techniques in the context of a radar based sensor system. It is realized that in addition to the signal processing the system may require sophisticated communication, and navigation functions. For example, a multiple platform solution may require precise position and timing information for each platform and between platforms. It is not the intent of this effort to design that part of the solution that provides the required position and timing. However, it is necessary that the contractor demonstrate understanding of the position and timing requirements to assess that these requirements can be realistically implemented into their solution in the near to mid-term time frame and to design the system and flight tests to emulate this timing and position performance as far as possible.

Phase I (basic effort): The top level requirement for the system is to detect and locate dismount targets from an airborne platform or platforms, manned or unmanned, in mountainous (primary) and urban (secondary) environments, day or night, and in all weather conditions. Since a given solution may consist of multiple platforms working in a coordinated manner we assume here that the range to the target is specified as a continuum from the target range to the nearest platform to the target range to the farthest platform. The detection angle(s) is defined as the span of observation angles from which a target can be successfully detected and located as determined by the baselines needed for detection.

Given these definitions for range and angle it is desired that the ranges of interest to the target can vary from 100s of meters to 10s of kilometers and the angles of interest can cover up to at least 120 degrees. Area coverage rates (i.e., revisit times) are also critical. Here we will assume that the areas of interest cover anywhere from several square kilometers to at least several 10s of square kilometers.

With the preceding operational type guidelines the contractor will devise solution concepts, and refine these concepts as is required for the preliminary design of Phase II. The contractor will support the solution concepts with detailed trade studies showing the estimated performance capabilities of the solution concept to include as a minimum the following:

a. Probability of detection / probability of false alarm

b. Minimum Detectable Velocity (MDV)

c. Location accuracy

d. Detection range / Detection angle(s)

e. Area coverage rate

f. Platform(s) type(s)

g. Communication requirements

h. Processing requirements

i. Cost, Size, Weight, and Power estimates

j. Position and timing requirements

A Requirements Review must be completed and approved before the decision to move onto Phase II (option exercise) will be made. This review will include all functional, performance, “-ility”, interface, resource, schedule and validation requirements for the proposed solution. The trade studies can serve to validate the requirements and can include a mix of analysis and high fidelity Modeling and Simulation. It is imperative that the government have the capability in-house to independently repeat contractor results supporting the trade studies outlined in the previous paragraph. Thus, the contractor is expected to work closely with the government during concept refinement and algorithm development to make available the software at intermediate stages of its development and to ensure that the government has access to and can use not only all software and algorithms in development for the ATI-GMTI concept solutions but also any other Modeling and Simulation (M&S) tools needed to interface with or embed the software and algorithms in development. AFRL offers as Government Furnished Property (GFP) a high fidelity data generation tool called RL-STAP (Research Lab-Space Time Adaptive Processing) capable of performing ATI. It is not a requirement for contractors to use RL-STAP but it does provide a common and convenient M&S platform for contractor and government participants and can be used to validate contractor owned M&S tools.

Phase II (Option): Phase II, if exercised, follows the completion of the approved requirements review and supporting trade studies. The main tasks in Phase II include detailed system design, system implementation and integration, flight test demonstration, data collection, system verification and performance validation.

Detailed System Design. For the detailed system design the contractor will use the preceding program results to determine at a minimum the following:

a. The subsystems that will be integrated to form the system

b. The design for each subsystem

c. The required interfaces between the subsystems

d. How the subsystems are to be assembled and integrated

e. The verification requirements that will be used to confirm that the subsystems have been assembled or integrated correctly

Before the system implementation (fabrication and integration) a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) will be held.

System Fabrication and Integration.

At the conclusion of an approved PDR the contractor will take the approved design and build the system to be tested. The contractor will provide the government all working knowledge of the hardware and software implemented in the system and develop a system level Interface Control Document (ICD).

Flight Testing and Performance Verification.

The contractor will create and execute a flight test plan. This testing will provide the data to verify the performance of the system solution against the requirements as determined in the Requirements Review portion of the effort. Proposals must emulate as close as possible the mature system concepts to be tested.

5. Program Management and Deliverables

a. Phase I (through concept refinement and trade studies)

Reviews - During Phase I, at a minimum, a Requirements Review will be conducted. Working charts shall be provided to the government PM a minimum of 5 working days before reviews.

b. Phase II - Option (after requirements review through end of basic technical effort)

1) Reviews - During Phase II, at a minimum, two Technical Interchange Meetings, a Preliminary Design Review, a Test Readiness Review and a Final Program Review will be held. Working charts shall be provided to the government PM a minimum of 5 working days before reviews.

2) Test Plan - The contractor shall develop a Flight Test and Taxi Plan

3) Documentation - The contractor shall deliver full system hardware, software, and interface documentation as well as the description of the data formats such that the documentation provides sufficient information to build and use the system. Documentation includes all materials including software documentation and user’s manuals required for users to use the delivered data processing software and algorithms for signal processing and data analysis independently of the data collection system (offline or lab-based processing).

c. The contractor shall submit all data items in accordance with the attached Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL).

6. OPSEC

General OPSEC procedures, policies and awareness are required in an effort to reduce program vulnerability from successful adversary collection and exploitation of critical information. OPSEC will be applied throughout the lifecycle of the contract. The Critical Information list will be provided upon request by the RYOY security office.

The Contractor shall participate with the Government in the development of a Program Protection Plan (PPP), to include the identification of Critical Program Information (CPI), and shall also participate with the Government in determining countermeasures needed to safeguard the CPI throughout the acquisition process. The Contractor shall plan for and execute program protection in accordance with the PPP and program guidance.