Ship Signature Measurement & Analysis
Angle developed the DDG 51Class RCS fixed site Radar Measurement System software and telemetry system. The staff participated in early system architecture and concept development. Angle developed the software to produce Standard Data Products and Tactical Data products from raw radar data (I & Q).
The Standard Data Products consist of RCS measurement statistics, median RCS graphics (polar and rectilinear plots) and downrange hourglass plots. The Tactical Data products consist of a Go / NoGo module that determines from measured data if the tested ship can or cannot use the DDG 51Class EW tactics approved by the Commander, Surface Warfare Development Group. In addition a Tactical Decision Aid module provides a graphic depiction for operational perspective of ship aspect sectors acceptable for decoy (chaff) employment against specific threats.
Also, Angle developed and implemented the motion measurement system telemetry package for ship and shore use. The shipboard system interfaces with onboard DMS to provide ship GPS position, attitude, heading, and wind speed and direction that is transmitted via the WSC 3 radio to the shore telemetry system. The data is then merged with raw radar data to produce a Standard Data File.
RCS Data Analysis – Angle is involved in RCS signature control and data analysis on several ship classes including DDG 51, CG 47, DD 963 and FFG 7. The process involves identifying the strongest and most persistent RCS scattering features using a color downrange plot, a standard RCS trial product, and then locating these scattering features on the ship topside space. The ultimate objective of the analysis is to identify physical shipboard items that are the source of scattering so corrective action can be taken to reduce the RCS signature of the offending items. Conventional ship data analysis is extremely manpower intensive and time consuming. However, Angle created a semi-automated analysis tool to reduce this analysis task time by an order of magnitude.
Ship Signature Management Support Services
Angle personnel have extensive experience in program management, quality assurance, shipboard configuration tracking and management, and the topside RCS features audit and reporting process. Engineering changes are a fact of life on US Navy ships. Initiatives to reduce the number of changes produce results, but developments in safety, changes in manufacturers, and obsolescence and discontinued materials all make changes inevitable. Some changes actually reduce overall cost and are pursued even when all others are avoided. Whatever the reason for making a change, the results often invoke the law of unintended consequences, especially in signature control. We have experience in development, review, and analysis of proposed changes. We use the total systems engineering approach to signature management as the essential element in impact assessment and scooping for all topside changes. We employ engineering judgment for initial impact assessment and follow that with model based analysis and assessment where doubt about the need for control measures exists. We work closely with the customer to find the most cost effective approach to meet their needs. We apply the same discipline to IR and magnetic signatures and can apply the same methodology to acoustic signatures with support from our acoustics analysis partners.
Angle has over 25 years of experience in signatures management from concept design through construction and life cycle maintenance. We have the knowledge, experience, and tools needed to help our customers develop, deliver, and maintain appropriate signature solutions.