DoD’s Target Control System“Developing a Corporate Strategy”

Dennis Mischel Target Management Initiative Program Manager

Director, Operational Test & Evaluation

Overview

• Why a Corporate Strategy

• Open Architecture

• Notional Road Ahead

Defense Science Board“Observations”

• Interoperability is limited, and the flexibility to use each other’s test range resources is absent.

• One can envision the gradual introduction of common control elements that would eventually provide us with the ability to “shoot any target on any range.”

• This approach will yield operations cost savings over time, since today’s one-of-a-kind systems will become increasingly difficult to service, maintain, and upgrade.

• Target interoperability will also facilitate better joint testing and training.

• Past attempts at common control have failed. • The Task Force believes another attempt is worthwhile if

service “buy-in” can be achieved

Why a corporate strategy now!

• Air Force - Incorporating Army UHF Targets into the AF TCS• Army - Integration of Air Force BQM-167 into Army Test Ranges• Army - High Compression UHF Data Link• Army - MSTCS L-Band Transponder for Sub-Scale Targets• Army - Navy BQM-74 GRDCS Frequency Integration• Army - Object Oriented Navigation, Guidance and Control (NGC) Software• Navy – Proprietary Info • Navy - Cooperative Adaptive Control of Target Systems

FY08 Proposed TMI Target Control projects

They all have merit but do not lead us to a corporate solution

Today’s Situation• Army

– DFCS: Capable but may be replaced– TTCS: Capable, limited, Army owns data rights– WSTCS: Derivative of MSTCS

• Air Force– GRDCS: System of Systems Approach, Unique, Old

• Navy– ITCS: Only one site operational– SNTC: Serves training and maybe testing……May upgrade to

FAS or a new architecture.

• OSD– NGTCS: Terminated– MSTCS: Early success’s– SRTG Control System: Open architecture approach for mobile

ground targets

Current Target Control Issues

System specific issues• Frequency Authorization Differences• Bandwidth• Hardware & Software Maintenance & Upgrades

Oversight perspective• Duplication of efforts• Lack of data rights• Lack of interoperability amongst targets and ranges.• Limits test and training• AST will be required to fly on tri-service ranges

Current Target Control Related TMI Projects

• Message Format Study – – Army lead thru 5D Systems, Inc.

• Common Interface Demonstration– Navy lead thru MSI

Target Control System Open Architecture

A multi-faceted strategy providing a framework for developing a joint interoperable control system architecture that adapt and exploit open-system

design principles and architectures

• Modular design with full design disclosure• Identify key interfaces with open standards• Reuseable software application• Life cycle affordability• Encourage collaboration and competition.• Certify conformance

TargetControlSystem

= interfaces

= key interface

= uses open standards

=subsystem component

Key Interface Open Key Interface

Closed Interface

Notional System Block Architecture

Road Ahead(Notional Roadmap)

• Identify a common target control architecture– Hardware– Software

• Identify key interfaces• Identify associated standards• Identify interim “wrappers”• Develop software modules

– Experiments, test and evaluation

• Establish Conformance and Maintenance

Fund in FY08 projects that comply with architecture