TELEMETRY IN THEATER MISSILE DEFENSE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Since the Gulf War, there has been significant interest in Theater Missile Defense (TMD) resulting in funding growth from tens of millions of dollars at the time of the Gulf War to $1.7 Billion in 1994. The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) has developed a Theater Missile Defense test and evaluation program that will assess technological feasibility and the degree to which system functionality and performance meet technical and operational requirements. The complexity of the TMD program necessitates a comprehensive test program which includes flight testing, ground testing, and modeling and simulation. This article will provide and overview the requirements and capabilities needed to satisfy these requirements. The data processing, and telemetry communities will play a major role in providing the expertise to support the development of the nation’s future Theater Missile Defense capabilities.