Douglas E. Forsyth National Severe Storms Laboratory Executive Director for Facilities and Strategic Planning Chief, Radar Research and Development Division December 2009 Presentation for the Executive Council for Multifunction Phased Array Radar FCMSSR

Background OFCM’s initial MPAR study – June 2006 OFCM’s initial MPAR study – June 2006 –“Federal Research and Development Needs and Priorities for Phased Array Radar” FCM- R –Included technology, operations concept and network concept elements –Original timeline – overcome by events –Adjustments needed based on advances in science and technology

Background NRC Study NRC Study –“Evaluation of the Multifunctional Phased Array Radar Planning Process” –Expansion of R&D Plan to provide detailed descriptions of tasks, priorities, costs, and key decision points –Frequent updating of the R&D Plan –Staged development Line-replaceable units (sub-arrays) Line-replaceable units (sub-arrays) Single antenna face Single antenna face Two Faces Two Faces Four Faces - Prototype Four Faces - Prototype

Current Activities Technical Issues being Identified Technical Issues being Identified –Individual Organizations & Collaboratively NWRT – NOAA, FAA/BCI, DHS, OU NWRT – NOAA, FAA/BCI, DHS, OU FAA – LL FAA – LL FAA - GTRI FAA - GTRI NOAA SBIR - FreENT NOAA SBIR - FreENT NOAA BCI Contract NOAA BCI Contract NOAA OU Grant NOAA OU Grant

Current Activities Technical Issues Technical Issues –Dual-Polarization – Phased array Cross-polarization isolation Cross-polarization isolation ZDR Accuracy ZDR Accuracy Beam width Beam width Simultaneous vs. Sequential operations Simultaneous vs. Sequential operations –Cost trade-offs and design space –Antenna design –Frequency – multiple Frequency

Current Activities Technical Issues Technical Issues –Multifunction Scan Strategies Scan Strategies –Maintenance and Logistical support Mechanical & Electrical Reliability Mechanical & Electrical Reliability –Displays and Decision making tools –Multi-face Operation –Thermal Management –Sensitivity

Current Activities –Technical Assessment Program (TAP) FAA and NOAA FAA and NOAA Create process to define and address technical Challenges facing MPAR– Risk Reduction Matrix Create process to define and address technical Challenges facing MPAR– Risk Reduction Matrix FAA contract with GTRI to support FAA contract with GTRI to support –Refine technical issues and related research objectives Starting Point for updated R&D plan Starting Point for updated R&D plan –IAA between FAA and NOAA

Next Tasks TAP TAP –Open solicitation and proposals White Paper White Paper Select/fund developers Select/fund developers –White Paper development (proposals) Down select/fund technology and demonstrator to address one or more TAP research objectives Down select/fund technology and demonstrator to address one or more TAP research objectives –Technology Demonstrator Build and test proposed subsystem demonstrator Build and test proposed subsystem demonstrator

Next Tasks Update R&D Plan Update R&D Plan –Include TAP Technical issues and related research –Leveraging of existing technology to address issues requiring full antenna (e.g. EQ-36/ EMMR) –Allocating unaddressed research goals to laboratories

Recommendation Task WG/MPAR Task WG/MPAR –Complete comprehensive update of MPAR R&D plan. Include extended applications (bird hazard, volcanic ash, wildfire/smoke) Include extended applications (bird hazard, volcanic ash, wildfire/smoke) –Update plan as needed annually thereafter.

Questions? THANK YOU