Radar Credible Target - 1 (RCT-1) Flight Test: An Innovative Solution for Ground Based Radar - Prototype (BGR-P) Testing

摘要

This paper provides an overview of the innovative solutions developed to meet the requirements of the target set designed for the Ground Based Radar Prototype (GBR-P) Radar Credible Target (RCT-1) flight test. The methodology used to design and plan this Target Of Opportunity (TOO) mission as a Minuteman 3 Associated Operation mission is presented. Solutions developed for the fundamental target designs and their truth data instrumentation are presented in context with the deployment schema developed for RCT-1. In addition, an innovative and cost effective chaff target concept to be tested on RCT-1 is presented with respect to possible out year Integrated Flight Test requirements. Emphasis is placed on the lessons learned to date from this process, and applicability to further NMD flight testing.