The Development of Application Software for Telemetry Groundstation Remote Control and Analysis

Abstract

Fleet telemetry stations were established in the 1965-1972 time frame to satisfy U.S. Navy requirements for weapons system training support. These stations are currently located at the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility (AFWTF), Puerto Rico; Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Virginia; the NATO Allied Missile Firing Installation (NAMFI), Crete, Greece; and White Beach, Okinawa, Japan. The mission of these telemetry stations is to collect, record, and process telemetered missile data during exercises involving ships and aircraft. The Naval Warfare Assessment Division uses the data to analyze weapons system performance during missile firing exercises conducted on fleet training ranges associated with these telemetry stations. Since these stations were originally installed, missile weaponry has advanced in sophistication, complexity, and usage. New weapons and tactics have been developed and introduced into the fleet which have not been matched by corresponding technology enhancements in the existing fleet telemetry stations. As a result, the Program Manager for Tactical Training Ranges (PMA-248) tasked the Naval Warfare Assessment Division to develop a computer-controlled telemetry ground station design capable of meeting current and future fleet training range requirements. This program involved the design, procurement, integration, and testing of telemetry ground station hardware and software required to meet fleet telemetry data collection requirements. Full Operational Capability of the first system, which was installed at AFWTF in Puerto Rico, was achieved in March of 1994. To date, the new telemetry ground station hardware and software has been used to support complex fleet training exercises, Combat System Ship Qualification Trials, Development Tests, and Operational Tests of U.S. and foreign navies. This paper will present the hardware and software design principles used to develop a computer-controlled telemetry ground station and the demonstrated performance benefits which have been realized.