Effectiveness of MMW aerosols in defeating a battlefield surveillance radar - Field demonstration preliminary results

The US Army Edgewood Research Development and Engineering Center (ERDEC) is developing advanced aerosol systems to combat threat surveillance, fire co ntrol, and seeker systems operating in the visible, infrared, and millimete r wave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. One such system is the M56 multispectral smoke generator, which presently operates in the visible and infrared (IR) portions of the spectrum; a millimeter wave (MMW) Module is in development by ERDEC to extend the M56 spectral range. This paper documents preliminary results of a Field Demonstration Test of t he M56 MMW Module, conducted during the summer of 1998 at Eglin Air Force B ase (AFB). An MMW instrumentation radar developed by the US Air Force 46(th ) Test Wing, MMW Division was modified to simulate the scan pattern and rad ar parameters of a tactical battlefield surveillance radar system. A Test G rid was populated with both stationary and moving tactical targets, and the radar scanned the grid to simulate a surveillance radar in operation. Once a realistic tactical engagement scenario was developed, MMW aerosols were deployed to demonstrate the impact such aerosols could have on radar detect ion and classification performance.