Decision aid on sensor performance

Authors:

  • Ove Gustafsson
  • Tomas Mårtensson
  • Andreas Persson

Publish date: 2009-12-31

Report number: FOI-R--2880--SE

Pages: 48

Written in: Swedish

Keywords:

  • tactical decision aid
  • TDA
  • simulations
  • IR
  • radar
  • signatures
  • weather
  • predictions
  • NWP

Abstract

In the project 'Beslutstöd för sensorprestanda' have programs and models that can be used as a tactical decision aid (TDA) been studied. The possibility to raise the quality of the models by using numerical weather predictions (NWP) data have also been studied. Knowledge about own and hostile sensors performance at the time for planning and realization of military operations can increase the probability for success. Such knowledge will make it easier to choose the right set of means for an operation. The demand on such TDA tools have changed with the changed assignments for the Armed Forces to more international engagements, more computer based information distributions and the technical development at the Forces. Assessment of the methods, tools and the functionality demands engagement from the user, purchaser and the organisations performing simulations, trials and developments of methods. Weather data is very important information planning a military mission. This study points at the possibility to use NWP directly within the TDA and also within the simulations at the assessment of the methods and tools. NWP generates large amounts of data that is used in the analysis of the weather predictions. Those NWP data is also useful to support basic data for instance for wave propagations, target and background signatures all necessary for the range predictions. The possibility to use predicted weather data in the range predictions gives the opportunity to choose right means and tools already in the planning stage of an operation. The study suggest that; the Swedish Armed Forces (SAF) get more experience of foreign TDA-systems, especially some NATO-system; an assessment of quality of data from NWP programs is performed to check the usefulness in a TDA system; a study of the WRF-chem programs use to predict aerosol levels; the results from the SAF study "Underlag till väderprognosmodeller för IR-system" is evaluated/assessed.