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Abstract:
This research project will develop a model that describes how we acquire, designate and engage a time-critical target. Very rarely do U.S. Air Force aircraft operate independently. F-15Cs integrate with E-3 AWACS for counterair while F-16CJs and RC-135s coordinate for suppression of enemy air defense. Shooters and sensors continuously interact to put weapons on target. Developments in modem warfare place a premium on the timeliness and accuracy of this interaction. And yet current operational and tactical integration of sensors and shooters is extremely haphazard; successful integration and target engagement is primarily due to random innovation. Sensor-to-shooter relationships require more analysis and a documented systematic approach to optimize current and future operations. in this thesis, I analyze the targeting data sent from sensor to sensor and from sensor to shooter. Specifically, I focus on how systems interact in order to employ weapons on a target, and what contributions each system makes to the entire target engagement process. From this analysis, I develop a model for the way we conduct near-real time targeting, from first detection to final target engagement. This time-critical targeting (TCT) model reveals five functions that must be fulfilled whenever we attempt target engagement. Highlighting these five functions detect, locate, identify, fuse and disseminate-allows us to measure each platform's ability to participate in target engagement. The TCT model lends itself to the development of a battle management tool called the TCT matrix. This matrix allows us to systematically identify, evaluate, and exploit sensor-to-sensor-to-shooter relationships for use in theater campaign execution. Using this battle management tool, a commander may select specific platforms from the entire 'universe' of sensors and shooters, to create specific target engagement 'constellations' of sensors and shooters able to engage desired targets.
| Limitations: |
 APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE |
| Pages: |
96 |
| Report Date: |
APR 2000 |
| Report Number: |
A013493 |
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