Target Systems Development

Mission — Target Systems Development source

This program element funds the development of Aerial Target Systems, Sea Surface Targets and Undersea Warfare Targets, Target Control systems, and associated Target Mission Support Systems, Target Threat Simulation Program and Target Augmentation and Auxiliary Systems required to simulate real world threats. These capabilities are required to execute developmental/operational test and evaluation of naval combat weapon systems and to satisfy advanced fleet training requirements while ensuring the Navy continues to develop threat simulations of emerging threat capabilities. JUSTIFICATION FOR BUDGET ACTIVITY: This program is funded under RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION MANAGEMENT SUPPORT because it supports efforts directed toward sustaining or modernizing installations or operations required for general research, development, test and evaluation.

Mission — Aerial Target System Dev source

The Aerial Target Systems Development program designs and develops threat representative subsonic and supersonic targets and associated payloads to emulate threat weapon systems and aircraft. In addition to representative air vehicles, this includes development of Target Control (TC) systems and associated Target Augmentation and Auxiliary Systems (TA/AS) which are used to replicate specific threats. Targets and auxiliary payloads are developed to support test and evaluation of combat systems required to defend fleet surface and air units in a hostile environment. As to specific hardware development, this project includes: - Supersonic Targets: Portfolio includes GQM-163A Supersonic Sea-Skimming Target (SSST) and AQM-88 Supersonic Air Launch Target (SALT) programs. Supersonic targets represent supersonic anti-ship cruise missile threats. The design and development of GQM-163A capabilities provide threat representative targets that are used in direct support of Developmental Test and Evaluation, Operational Test and Evaluation, and Live Fire Test and Evaluation of major combat weapons programs and support fleet training. Critical live-fire Test and Evaluation events are supported for AEGIS CG and DDG Mods, DDG-51 Flight III, LHA 8, CVN-79 LPD Flight II, SM-6, SM-2, RAM, and ESSM. The GQM-163A is a non-recoverable supersonic sea skimming aerial target, capable of speeds in excess of Mach 2.5 and cruise altitudes from 13.0 to 52K feet. The GQM-163A has also demonstrated higher altitude diving threat profiles. Funding may also be used to begin development of potential future supersonic targets to keep pace with emerging threats. - Subsonic Targets: Portfolio includes BQM-177A, BQM-34S and BQM-167 subsonic target programs. The BQM-177A SSAT primarily represents subsonic anti-ship cruise missile threats. The BQM-177A SSAT provides threat representation for developmental and operational test & evaluation events of major combat weapons systems programs and in support of fleet training events. Specifically, the BQM-177A SSAT provides critical live-fire test and evaluation events for AEGIS CG and DDG Mods, DDG-51 Flight III, CVN-79, LHA-8, LPD Flight II, JSF, E-2D, SM-6, SM-2, RAM, and ESSM. BQM-34S are undergoing product improvement program efforts to address component obsolescence and improve current performance to meet evolving requirements. The BQM-167A is utilized by operational aviation squadrons that participate in Navy Weapon System Evaluation Program (NWSEP) at Tyndall Air Force Base, FL. NWSEP is the traditional mechanism for aviation squadrons to accomplish Training and Readiness (T&R) requirements provided by Non-Combat Expenditure Allocation (NCEA) of air-to-air weapons as part of Fleet Readiness Plans (FRP) prior to deployment. - Target Augmentation and Auxiliary Systems (TA/AS): Includes Target Threat Simulation Program (TTSP), Target Mission Support Systems (TMSS), and Target Control (TC). The TTSP portfolio provides the payload equipment required to electronically enhance aerial targets to provide threat representative radio frequency signatures, specifically the electronic attack and threat radar emissions (active emitters). Development of threat representative simulation components is on-going and required to keep pace with evolving threats and ensure that the Navy's threat simulation capabilities remain relevant against emerging threats. TC provides command and control of targets to enable the safe execution of threat-representative mission profiles. TA/AS also includes the design, development and qualification of various TMSS projects including but not limited to: Target RF datalink hardware, ground control hardware and software, scorer transponders, scoring ground stations, telemetry antennas, radar and locator beacons, identification, friend or foe transponders, and associated test sets. TA/AS enables each target to be uniquely configured for specific mission profiles and provide for high fidelity simulation of foreign threats. TA/AS-configured targets are used for radar acquisition test, electronic countermeasures (jamming) evaluation, infrared measurement and testing, radar cross section evaluation, decoy-effectiveness testing, maneuver analysis, electronic warfare evaluation, warhead-effectiveness testing and evaluation of fleet tactics. Scoring capabilities include both surface and airborne scalar scoring systems. $1.049M has been reprogrammed to other Navy priorities. Database closed on 09/30/2024 and actuals will be updated in next budget submission.

Mission — Surface Targets Development source

This project develops seaborne targets and their related target augmentation systems in support of air-to-surface and surface-to-surface weapons test and evaluation and fleet training.

Mission — ASW TARGET source

RDT&E,N Budget provides funding for multiple lines of improvement across the Navy's portfolio of reusable and expendable undersea warfare targets. 1. Provides funding for sprint speed and frequency expansion to improve performance capability for the MK 39 Mod 3 Expendable Mobile ASW Training Target (EMATT). This effortsupports the transition of the Sprint Speed and Low Frequency Improvement into MK 39 Mod 3 EMATT production and starts to investigate Continuous Active Sonar (CAS) capability to provide better detection performance and provide operators with a continuous track. Sprint Speed and Frequency Expansion upgrade allows EMATT to more closely represent submarine tactics for evasion and will make it compatible with new ASW sensors like the FFG Constellation Class Variable Depth Sonar. 2. Provides funding for a Long Endurance Variant of MK 39 Mod 3 Expendable Mobile ASW Training Target (EMATT) to support 24+ hour missions. This effort supports development of Long Endurance module for the MK 39 Mod 3 EMATT. The Long Endurance module will allow the EMATT to support training of multiple aircrews in a single, coordinated extended tracking exercise and facilitate the training of multiple watch sections on surface ships and submarines in an extended tracking exercise. 3. Provides funding for a Low Frequency Variant of MK 39 Mod 3 Expendable Mobile ASW Training Target (EMATT) to support narrowband tracking requirements for USN submarines. This effort supports the development of a Low Frequency module for the MK 39 Mod 3 EMATT. The Low Frequency Variant upgrade allows EMATT to better emulate low frequency signatures of modern threat submarines. 4. Provides funding for MK66 Heavweight USW Training Target (HUTT) [MK30 ASW Target Replacement]. This effort supports non-recurring engineering efforts associated with the new MK66 HUTT production and develops performance improvements and peculiar support equipment modifications to support integration of the target with existing range support equipment.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (3)