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BACIMO 2003. Inter-Service Collaboration in the Development of T arget A cquisition W eapons S oftware TAWS 11 September 2003 Lt Col Marie Walters, AFRL Dr. Richard Shirkey, ARL Dr. Andreas Goroch, NRL Mr. Gary Hover, USCG R&D Center. Overview. What is TAWS
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BACIMO 2003 Inter-Service Collaboration in the Development of Target Acquisition Weapons Software TAWS 11 September 2003 Lt Col Marie Walters, AFRL Dr. Richard Shirkey, ARL Dr. Andreas Goroch, NRL Mr. Gary Hover, USCG R&D Center
Overview • What is TAWS • History of Development • Inter-Service Cooperation • Future of TAWS
What is TAWS • TAWS provides operational weather support • Predicts how weather impacts EO sensor performance • Mission planning tool to optimize attack effectiveness while minimizing threat exposure • Attack axis • Attack timing • Optimum altitude • Effective swath width (surveillance) • Sensor cueing • Thermal crossover • WX-impacted illumination
TAWS is Used in Mission Planning -24 hrs -6 hrs 0 Pre-Mission Planning Mission Execution • Mission Assignments • Update sorties schedules • Update flight planning • Weapons uploading • Provide guidance for tactical decisions
Impact of Time of Day/ Weather Forecast Accuracy on IR Target Acquisition
TAWS Pilot Survey Rated pre-mission and inflight usefulness of data User survey results Mission Essential Not Useful Somewhat Useful Useful
TAWS Objectives • Support Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard missions: • surface attack – search and rescue • close air support – target detection • air interdiction – helicopter refueling • Predict weather effects on EO sensor detection and/or lock-on range: • Daylight, Low Light Level TV – 8 - 12 m IR • NVG – 3 - 5 m IR • 1.06 m Laser • Support PC Windows-based systems • Provide rapid processing of multiple targets/sensors/sorties • Use automated weather data ingest • Access geographic/climatological databases for defaults • Incorporate state-of-the-art physical models
TAWS Structure Sensors Mission Weather TAWS Computer Targets
TAWS Output Examples Thermal Crossover Times (for multiple targets) Detection Ranges/Best Attack Axis ( for multiple targets) HOC COH Supports Mission Planning and Execution
Physical Model Components Weather Data Sensor Performance Model Illumination Model Operations Data Intelligence Data Detection Range Delta T Target Contrast Model Atmospheric Transmission Model
Current Data Sources AFWA TEDS DeFries and Townshend Terrain DB VMap0 PFPS MM5 NOGAPS, COAMPS Route Server Weather Data Intelligence Data Operations Data
www.taws.net UPDATE NOTICE Welcome to the TAWS web site. This site provides information on the TAWS software product.TAWS predicts the performance of air-to-ground electro-optical weapon and navigation systems. Performance is expressed primarily in terms of maximum detection or lock-on range. Results are displayed in graphic and tabular formats. TAWS supports systems in three regions of the spectrum: Infrared (3-5 microns; 8-12 microns); Visible (0.4 - 0.9 microns); and Laser (1.06 microns). The Visible includes both television (TV) and Night Vision Goggles (NVG) systems.
EOTDA to TAWS Development C/Year Product/Version Event 1982 Mark 1 (Manual) IR (1 Target & 1 Background) 1986 Mark 1 (PC) PC EOTDA (IR,Laser,TV) 1989 EOTDA V1.0 Title/Numbering Change 1992 NOWS Program Initiated-- AFRL 1994 EOTDA V3.1 EOTDA Development Ends 1995 NOWS V1.0 Demo to ACC/AFSOC 1997 TAWS Program Initiated by AFRL 1998 TAWS Army/Navy Join TAWS Development 1999 TAWS V1.0/NOWS V5.2 ACC Authorization for Operations 2000 TAWS V2.1/NOWS V6.1 Transitioned for DoD Operations 2001 TAWS V3.0 NOWS Integrated into TAWS 2003 TAWS V4.0 Machine Independence
Inter-Service Collaboration • R&D • AFRL--program manager, technical guidance, target builder, • software testing, transmission model • NRL--technical guidance, testing • SPAWAR--water backgrounds, ship (with wake) targets • ARL--technical guidance, code analysis, sensors/models, and targets • TEC--Joint Environmental Targeting Toolkit (JETTK) enhancements • NVL--sensor performance models • USCG R&D Center--boat targets, testing • Naval Observatory--solar/lunar almanac code • Operations and Maintenance (O&M) • AFRL--contract manager, Chair of CCB • NRL/SPAWAR/ARL/USCG--CCB participants • AFWA/ASTO-E SEA 93--funding provider, CCB participants
Current / Future Plans • Targets / Backgrounds • Support customized (editable) targets with appendable parts • Support environmental overlays • Sensors • Support Laser Marker (Near-IR Pointer) • Add current and planned sensors to the sensor database • Atmospheric Transmission • Implement multi-layer transmission model • Meteorological Data • Access Army’s GMDB • Support LLT data from TEDS (TAFs) • Include climatology database for default values • Other • Allow more flexible output tables • Improved cultural illumination model • Real-time info in the cockpit for time critical targeting
Cockpit Info for Time Critical Targeting GAIN SYM CEN CPL NORM ACT CNTL FIX 40 2 22 6 2 330 33 340 20 340 22 F39 1A2S6B +25 A-65H A-65G 6 11L 010 12REDI 350 SWAP TAD DCLT SMS BRT CON 2 H 33 13 X X X X X
Programmatics • 1QFY04 TAWS v3.2 replaces operational v2.4 • 2Q FY04 ESC/ACW assumes responsibility for TAWS • Service Labs continue R&D for TAWS • FY04 TAWS v4.x replaces operational v3.2
What has been gained in the past year? Weather Impact Decision Aid Workshop • Net operation • Interface with trainers/users No longer just a weather tool • Active operational fielding of IRTSS • Architecture for platform independence has been started • New collaboration with USCG/ enhanced with USMC. WIDA 2004 • March 2004 • Hanscom FAB, Massachusetts
TAWS Exploit the weather for the battle by providing a tool to the warfighter that is: Useful Accurate Timely