Next-Generation Navy Electro-Optical Tactical Decision Aids Dr. Anthony Bucholtz Naval Research Laboratory Monterey, CA

2 Outline Motivation Way Forward –Reinstate Navy Support of TAWS –Solicit User Feedback/Requirements –Develop Next-Generation EOTDA Phased Development Approach –Utilize Navy Operational METOC Capability –Develop Interim Reachback Capability –Position for Forward-Deployed Capability –Conduct Validation and Verification Effort

3 Outline Motivation Way Forward –Reinstate Navy Support of TAWS –Solicit User Feedback/Requirements –Develop Next-Generation EOTDA Phased Development Approach –Utilize Navy Operational METOC Capability –Develop Interim Reachback Capability –Position for Forward-Deployed Capability –Conduct Validation and Verification Effort

4 EOTDA - A Required Capability Littoral Battlespace Sensing, Fusion and Integration (LBSF&I) Initial Capability Document (ICD) of 28 September 2006 Initial Capability Document (ICD) for Meteorological and Oceanographic Environment of 14 August 2009 OPNAV N2/N6E NOP Guidance for FY13 of 27 January 2012 Tactical Applications and Services

5 EOTDA - Varied Customers Any EOTDA capability must accommodate needs of a variety of users: Reachback: o Fleet Weather Centers o Ship-board planners (w good bandwidth) Forward Deployed: o Marines o Ship-board planners (w limited bandwidth) o Strike fighters o UAV o ISR o Anti-Piracy

6 Major Issue for Navy: TAWS is at a Crossroads Funding decreasing o No Navy funding in FY12 o Air Force funding cut in FY12; projected to go to zero by FY14 Personnel retiring Minimal R&D, no V&V by USN or USAF o Impacts effectiveness Operational support still required o TAWS currently the only game in town for EOTDA o Nearly weekly requests to NRL for support from users: EOTDA required now and in the future => Motivated proposal to support TAWS and develop Next-Gen Navy EOTDA

7 Outline Motivation Way Forward –Reinstate Navy Support of TAWS –Solicit User Feedback/Requirements –Develop Next-Generation EOTDA Phased Development Approach –Utilize Navy Operational METOC Capability –Develop Interim Reachback Capability –Position for Forward-Deployed Capability –Conduct Validation and Verification Effort

8 Reinstate Navy Support of Joint TAWS Program Support Navy/Marine Users: o Field requests for information on TAWS capabilities, operation, and science Coordinate with USAF and USA on future support and development of TAWS TAWS Google Earth Overlay

9 Solicit User Feedback/Requirements Site visits to operational centers that utilize EOTDAs o e.g. FWC San Diego, FWC Norfolk, FWC Det Fallon, MAWTS-1, etc. Feedback from in-field operators o e.g. recently returned METOC officers o Scientist-At-Sea opportunities Workshop o Hosted by NRL-Monterey o Bring together Navy/Marine users, sponsors, R&D, EOTDA providers o Goal: Determine needs, requirements, best way forward on Next-Gen EOTDA

10 Develop Next-Generation EOTDA Challenges o Anticipate an enhanced TAWS-like product in future Nites-Next environment o Forward deployed computing capability is varied o Future NN environment undefined Proposed solution o Prepare for future NN by developing a capability in reachback mode whose components can be applied to NN o Take phased approach that steadily builds on previous accomplishments

11 Outline Motivation Way Forward –Reinstate Navy Support of TAWS –Solicit User Feedback/Requirements –Develop Next-Generation EOTDA Phased Development Approach –Utilize Navy Operational METOC Capability –Develop Interim Reachback Capability –Position for Forward-Deployed Capability –Conduct Validation and Verification Effort

12 Navy Aerosol Modeling Global Modeling: Navy Aerosol Analysis and Predication System (NAAPS) World’s first operational global aerosol model and is based on NOGAPS fields. Utilizes world’s first operational aerosol data assimilation & fire data streams. Used for forecasting as well as process studies and EO climatology. February 2007 Optical Depth Mesoscale Modeling: Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS ® ) COAMPS ® dust forecasts operational at FNMOC. Currently adding aerosol species fully coupled with the model. Can be used to study complicated coastal flows where aerosol particles, winds, and water vapor covary.

13 FAROP: Forecast of Aerosol Radiative and Optical Properties Extinction (1/km) Forecast Time Pressure (mb) 1.06µm Extinction 1.06  m Extinction Altitude Purpose: Calculates optical properties for TAWS and FNMOC Status:Operational at FNMOC, 4X day Input:NOGAPS (T, P, RH), NAAPS (mass concentrations) Species:Dust, smoke, sulfate and sea salt Output: 3D:extinction, partitioned by species Flt levels:slant path visual range (nm) Surface: horizontal visibility Column: AOD for each species Channels:19 wavelengths, 5 bands in UV, Vis, NIR, MIR, and IR Forecast time

14 Outline Motivation Way Forward –Reinstate Navy Support of TAWS –Solicit User Feedback/Requirements –Next-Generation EO Performance Surface TDA Phased Development Approach –Utilize Navy Operational METOC Capability –Develop Interim Reachback Capability –Position for Forward-Deployed Capability –Conduct Validation and Verification Effort

15 Develop Interim-Reachback Mode Capability Incorporate GIS-enabled Navy METOC fields o NAAPS global aerosol fields o COAMPS regional weather/aerosol fields o FAROP global/regional aerosol optical properties fields o GIS-enabled at FNMOC o Formatted for ingest and utilization by Nites-Next Incorporate Sensor-Target Database o Capability to easily update Incorporate fast RT code into FNMOC environment o Utilizes GIS-enabled Navy METOC and aerosol fields o Rigorously calculates transmission/extinction Initially develop in reachback mode o Performance surface capability o Area-wide, or point, forecast of EO sensor performance

16 Envisioned Product Multiple layered product envisioned that addresses multiple applications o Mission Planning: Area-wide forecasts of conditions  Visibility  Thermal cross-over times, etc. o 'What if' scenarios: Location/sensor/target specific forecasts o Optimal Tactics: Multiple height/approach forecasts Notional thermal crossover product

17 Outline Motivation Way Forward –Reinstate Navy Support of TAWS –Solicit User Feedback/Requirements –Next-Generation EO Performance Surface TDA Phased Development Approach –Utilize Navy Operational METOC Capability –Develop Interim Reachback Capability –Position for Forward-Deployed Capability –Conduct Validation and Verification Effort

18 Position for Forward-Deployed Capability Challenge: Forward deployed computing capability is varied and not yet completely defined Philosophy: Develop reachback capability as a bridge to providing for full functionality for the forward client o Nites-Next or equivalent Coordinate with Nites-Next on forward deployment of EO performance surface TDA: o Pursue running RT code on forward deployed NN machines o Liaison with NN to scope requirements/restrictions

19 Outline Motivation Way Forward –Reinstate Navy Support of TAWS –Solicit User Feedback/Requirements –Next-Generation EO Performance Surface TDA Phased Development Approach –Utilize Navy Operational METOC Capability –Develop Interim Reachback Capability –Position for Forward-Deployed Capability –Conduct Validation and Verification Effort

20 Conduct Two-Pronged On-Going Validation &Verification Effort V&V of Input Parameters: o Utilize aerosol/radiation measurements obtained in multiple past (and future) surface and airborne field studies  Test and validate model generated aerosol fields  Test and validate model generated aerosol optical properties fields V&V of Output Parameters o Utilize long-term surface based measurements to build up statistical comparisons  World-wide visibility measurements Field studies by NRL-MRY World-wide visibility reports

Questions?