Analysis of Operational Issues in Support of the Development of the AN/APS-144Podded Radar

摘要

This report describes the analysis of operational issues regarding the use of thenew AIL AN/APS-144 podded radar on aircraft for counterdrug interdiction. It addressed several performance and operational issues associated with use of the radar for air-to-air intercept missions with targeting data provided by the Relocatable-Over-The-Horizon Radar (ROTHR) surveillance system, such as: Radar volume coverage; latency in the C(2) link; intercept geometries; and the effect of target and interceptor speed on probability of target detection. The analyses also address effects of interceptor range restrictions, and the use of alternate end-game tactics. The study further involved analysis of river visibility of four major rivers in South America using a GIS tool and the Defense Mapping Agency's Digital chart of the World. It is concluded that podded radar intercepts with current ROTHR performance are feasible, and probability of success will increase significantly with planned upgrades. Similarly use of the radar for riverine interdiction is not significantly inhibited by tree obscuration.