Tactical unmanned aerial vehicles in a proposed joint infrastructure to counter theater ballistic missiles

Abstract

Proliferation of tactical ballistic missile (IBM) systems throughout the Third World represents a serious threat to American national interests. As demonstrated during operation Desert Storm in Iraq, countering this threat is a very difficult problem. A joint, multi-level infrastructure to counter the TBM threat is vital to American security. This thesis considers the joint infrastructure and tactics necessary to counter the TBM threat. During peacetime, infrastructure assets monitor TBM forces of potential adversaries noting: operating routines, command control and communication (C3) architecture, fixed launch sites and logistics and storage areas. If hostilities arise, the infrastructure expands with theater-level search assets and weapons systems to localize and destroy the enemy IBM force, especially mobile launchers, before they fire on friendly forces or civilians. Emphasis is on use of tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to locate and positively identify mobile transporter erector launchers (TELs) during the early stages of hostilities. The model proposed uses a tactical UAV to search a segment of road for transiting TELs. Given length of road segment searched and search platform velocity, probability of the UAV over flying the TEL is calculated. Having overflown the TEL, probability of detection and recognition as a target of interest is calculated based on sensor characteristics and searcher flight profile.