Alternatives for military space radar / editor, Cale M. Gillen.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Gillen, Cale M.

United States. Congressional Budget Office.

Series:

Defense, security and strategy series.

Defense, security and strategy series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Space-based radar--Evaluation.

Space-based radar.

Radar--Military applications--United States.

Radar.

Astronautics, Military--United States.

Astronautics, Military.

United States--Armed Forces--Procurement.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (176 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York : Nova Science Publishers, c2010.

Language Note:

English

System Details:

Mode of access: Internet via CBO's web site. Address as of 1/11/07: http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/76xx/doc7691/01-03-SpaceRadar.pdf; current access available via PURL.

Summary:

The Department of Defense (DoD) and the intelligence community rely on various systems to provide imagery to tactical commanders and intelligence analysts. This book examines the costs and potential performance of four possible designs for a Space Radar System.

Contents:

Intro

ALTERNATIVES FOR MILITARY SPACE RADAR

CONTENTS

PREFACE

Chapter 1 ALTERNATIVES FOR MILITARY SPACE RADAR

SUMMARY

Space Radar's Operations and Intended Missions

Issues in Designing a Space Radar System

Design Trade-Offs

Key Technological Challenges

Alternative Space Radar Architectures

Costs of the Alternative Space Radar Systems

Performance Comparison of the Alternative Architectures

SAR Performance

Access

Response Time

Coverage

GMTI Performance

Mean Track Life

Performance against Mobile Missile Launchers

Data Processing and Communications Bandwidth

1. INTRODUCTION

Space Radar's Intended Missions

Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging

Ground Moving-Target Indication

High-Resolution Terrain Information and Open-Ocean Surveillance

CBO's Analytic Approach

2. PAST AND PRESENT SAR AND GMTI PLATFORMS

Previous SAR Spacecraft

Current SAR Spacecraft

Designs for Planned SAR Spacecraft

Airborne SAR and GMTI Systems

Discoverer II GMTI Program

3. DESIGN TRADES, KEY TECHNOLOGIES, AND ALTERNATIVE ARCHITECTURES FOR SPACE RADAR

Trade-Offs in Designing a Space Radar System

Orbital Altitude and Inclination

Benefits and Drawbacks of Various Altitudes

Potential Problems with Medium Earth Orbits

The Role of Inclination

Radar Antenna: Electronically Steered Array or Reflector?

Radar Frequency

Challenges Posed by Key Technologies

Satellite Power

Radar Bandwidth

GMTI Signal Processing

Communications Bandwidth

The Alternative Architectures Analyzed in This chapter

Costs of the Alternatives

4. PERFORMANCE COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVE ARCHITECTURES FOR SPACE RADAR

SAR Imaging Performance

SAR Access

SAR Response Time

SAR Coverage

GMTI Access.

GMTI Response Time

GMTI Coverage

Mean Track Life for Individual Targets

SAR Data Rates

GMTI Data Rates

APPENDIX A. COST ESTIMATES FOR THE ALTERNATIVE SPACE RADAR SYSTEMS IN CBO'S ANALYSIS

A Summary of the Alternatives and Their Costs

CBO's Estimating Methods

Research and Development Costs

Procurement Costs

Payload

Spacecraft

Integration and Assembly

Ground Equipment

Launch Vehicle

Program Management

Operations Costs

Satellite Operations

Tasking, Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination

Sustaining Engineering

Replacement Space Radars and Launch Vehicles

APPENDIX B. SAR AND GMTI ANALYSIS METHODOLOGIES

SAR Analysis Methodology

GMTI Analysis Methodology

GLOSSARY

End Notes

Chapter 2 TRANSFORMATIONAL SATELLITE AND SPACE RADAR CHALLENGES

RESULTS IN BRIEF

CONCLUSION

RECOMMENDATION FOR EXECUTIVE ACTION

SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

ENCLOSURE I: COMMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

ENCLOSURE II: SPACE RADAR BRIEFING SLIDES

Space Radar

Briefing Contents

BACKGROUND

System Description and Capabilities

Program Cost and Complexity

Management and Stakeholders

Program Status

Knowledge about Requirements and Resources Should Influence Program Start

OBJECTIVE

PRELIMINARY FINDINGS

Program Has Strived to Close Gaps: Requirements

Program Has Strived to Close Gaps: Resources - Technology

Program Has Strived to Close Gaps: Resources - Cost Sharing

Challenges Remain - Requirements

Challenges Remain - Program May Not Have Planned Enough Time

Comparison of Months between Program Milestones

Challenges Remain - Program May Not Have Planned Enough Time.

Challenges Remain: Key Risks Need to Be Mitigated

Examples of Top Risks of the Development Effort

Challenges Remain: Key Risks Need to be Mitigated

Challenges Remain - Agreements Need to be Finalized: Cost Sharing

Challenges Remain - Agreements Need to be Finalized: Roles and Responsibilities

Challenges Remain - Program Affordability

Conclusions

Scope of Work

Locations for interviews and documentation:

ENCLOSURE III: TRANSFORMATIONAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (TSAT)

Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT)

Importance of TSAT

Cost, Funding &amp

Schedule

Incremental Block Approach

Acquisition Schedule

Program Has Strived to Close Gaps: Maturing Technology

Challenges Remain: Early Tests Have Revealed Challenges in Laser Communication

Challenges Remain: Limited Scalability Testing Adds Risk

Challenges Remain: Program Faces Inherent Integration Risks

FINDINGS

Software Development Schedule Optimistic

Challenges Remain: Program May Not Have Planned Enough Time for Networking Activities

Challenges Remain: Program is Not Able to Fill Critical Technical Positions

CONCLUSIONS

SCOPE OF WORK

GAO'S MISSION

CHAPTER SOURCES

INDEX.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher.

ISBN:

1-61209-818-5

OCLC:

699510341