Using STK for on-the-air Missile/Weapons Range Mission Readiness and Mission Capability Assurance

1. Using STK for on-the-air Missile/Weapons Range Mission Readiness and Mission Capability Assurance Steve Williams RT Logic 12515 Academy Ridge View Colorado Springs, CO 80920 719-598-2801, swilliams@rtlogic.com

2. T400CS Channel Simulator Overview Whenever transmitters and receivers are in motion with respect to each other… Receive Station Or System

3. T400CS Channel Simulator Overview …flight and ground systems must be fully tested against these conditions. • Doppler Shift • Range attenuation • Range delay • Ambient RF noise • Jammers and interferers • Frequency selection, power levels and antenna characteristics • Modulation type and data rate • Terrain and overhead obscuration • Natural and man-made atmospheric conditions • Flight paths, Orbits and Ground paths • Ground locations • Etc. Nominal and worst-case RF COMMS Link Tests Are Critical Receive Station Or System

4. T400CS Channel Simulator Overview • Flight Equipment Testing • Examples: Receivers, transmitters, modems, decoders, algorithms, etc. • Ground Equipment Testing • Examples: Receivers, transmitters, modems, decoders, algorithms, etc. • Inter-vehicle Links • Example: LEO passing data to GEO • COMMS on the Move • Examples: Bouncing antenna on a Truck, Rolling antennas on Ships, Etc. • Test Range Testing • Examples: Air-to-Ground, Ground-to-Air, Air-to-Air Weapons, Etc.

5. T400CS Channel Simulator Overview • Tests must be realistic to have value • Nominal Case • Worst Case • “Gold” Regression Tests • Relative motion and flight paths relate to most of the difficult conditions that need to be tested against RT Logic Photo

6. T400CS Channel Simulator Overview • Perfect Blend • T400CS adds hardware-in-the-loop testing to STK modeling • AGI’s STK • Setup, visualization and physics engine • Flight paths, RF COMMS parameters, Ground locations • Don’t have to understand flight/orbital dynamics • Calculations are complex  keep focused on work, not on tool • Very technical channel simulator user model without STK commanding of T400CS • RT Logic’s T400CS Channel Simulator • Generates actual IF / RF signals • High fidelity, physics-compliant test signals from STK models • Phase-continuous, smooth interpolation • Carrier Doppler and Signal Doppler • Signal impairments (Noise, fading, plume effect, etc.)

7. T400CS Simplified Block Diagram STK RT Logic T400CS Channel Simulator STK Engine Files RF Frequency Down-Converters RF Frequency Up-Converters Signal Generators RT Logic STK Bridge Device Under Test Spectrum Analyzers Ethernet IF / RF Channel Simulators Signal Conditioners 4DX Amplifiers RT Logic GUI

8. Application ExampleRange Testing

9. Test Ranges • General Test Range Business Model • Provide area for test flights • Provide safety to test operations • Collect telemetry from vehicles under test • Return best-source telemetry to customer • STK • Provides key test planning tool • Channel Simulator • Provides key signal generation tool • Large investments are at stake • Lives • Money (ALCM ($1M) + B-52 + Crew + Fuel + Range Staff + Range Fees …) • Range time is in short supply • Some test are one-shot and can’t be reflown Together, these create a vital and unique range operations and mission assurance solution.

10. Loading ALCM to B-52 Bomb Bay USAF Photo

11. Loading ALCM on B-52 External Pylons USAF Photo

12. B-52 Takeoff USAF Photo

13. B-52 in Flight with ALCMs on External Pylons USAF Photo

14. ALCM Launch from B-52 Bomb Bay USAF Photo

15. ALCM Test Flight USAF Photo

16. ALCM Transmitting Telemetry TM Site Telemetry from ALCM Boeing Photo

17. ALCM Test Flight TM Site TM Site Same general signal at Each TM site from ALCM: Different Doppler Different Delay Different Attenuation Etc. TM Site TM Site (Mobile) USAF Photo TM Site

18. ALCM Test Flight TM Site Mission Control Center: Mission safety and best-source telemetry TM Site TM Site TM Site (Mobile) USAF Photo TM Site

19. Range and Mission Assurance Asset TM Site TM Site T400CS Channel Simulator + STK Generates the same signals, but no flight is required. Key Range and Mission Assurance Asset. TM Site TM Site (Mobile) USAF Photo TM Site

20. Initial System Test (15 Jul 2009 @ UTTR)

21. UTTR – Wendover Peak TM Site UTTR Wendover Peak TM Site UTTR Goshute TM Site (as viewed from Wendover Peak TM site) RT Logic Photo RT Logic Photo

22. UTTR Wendover Peak TM Site Spectrum Analyzer (Top) S-Band Power Amplifier (Middle Unit) RT Logic T400CS Channel Simulator (Bottom Unit) RT Logic Photo RT Logic Photo Laptop Running STK and T400STK Bridge RT Logic Photo

23. UTTR Wendover Peak TM Site Transmit Signals from Wendover Peak to Goshute as if they came from the ALCM. RT Logic Photo

24. UTTR Wendover Peak TM Site RT Logic Photo RT Logic Photo

25. UTTR Test Results • Assure T400CS STK bridge functionality • Assure T400CS with STK can transmit properly perturbed flight path data, at RF, to a distant TM site. • Assure normal MCC receipt of collected TM data. • Obtain data from an actual mission • ALCM Telemetry • Pointing Data (Azimuth, Elevation, Time) • Generate STK scenario from actual mission • Run STK scenario driving Channel Simulators with actual data • Compare MCC results from simulated mission to those from actual mission • Run similar tests at WSMR (late August, 2009)

26. How AGI software was applied • T400STK Bridge • Uses STK Engine • Receives events from STK when important changes take place • Queries STK for additional data when these events occur • Performs further T400CS-specific calculations • Sends commands to T400CS via TCP/IP Sockets • No STK modifications were necessary

27. How AGI software was applied • Temporary use of “Chains” to specify T400CS operation.

28. How AGI software was applied • STK 9 Implementation will be much better integrated.

29. Key technical attributes • Key attributes of STK that enabled this • Easy and flexible scenario creation • Strong visualization • Precise physics-engine modeling • STK Engine / True “Components” Architecture • Excellent customer support • Key attributes of T400CS that enabled this • True-to-nature signal generation • Hardware-in-the-loop capability • Client / Server instrument software model • Modular hardware and software architecture • Ethernet programmable

30. Summary • STK is a world-class modeling tool. • T400CS is a world-class channel simulator. • Together, they enable true test. • Reduces test time and cost. • Reduces danger of some tests. • Improves depth and accuracy of test. • Keeps engineers focused on tests, not tools. • Creates a unique test system for a wide variety of applications.