AN/FSY-3 Space Fence System Overview

International Symposium on Ensuring Stable Use of Outer Space

Tokyo, Japan

February 2019

Lockheed Martin RMS

199 Borton Landing Road,

Moorestown, NJ 08057 USA

Information in this presentation has been assembled from Distribution A material previously cleared for public release by 66ABG PA and SMC PA:[1] “AN/FSY-3 Space Fence System Sensor Site One/Operations Center Integration Status and Sensor Site Two Planned Capability” 2017 AMOS Conference presentation, Case Number 66ABG-2017-0090[2] “Space Fence System Overview” 2016 International Symposium on Ensuring Stable Use of Outer Space, Japan Space Forum presentation, Case Number 66ABG-2016-0022[3] “Overview of the Large Digital Arrays of the Space Fence Radar” 2016 IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology” paper, Case Number 66ABG-2016-0111[4] Also, there are aerial pictures included in this brief that have been cleared for public release by SMC PA 953

2

Overview

• Agenda

– Program Overview & Status

– Integration Status

– Sensor Site Two Benefits

– Summary

• Key Messages

– Significant progress achieved on Space Fence Program to-date

– Integration Test Bed (ITB) utilized to reduce Sensor Site 1 (SS1) integration risk

• Operational and tracking objects since Jan 2016

– System Performance verified and validated against In-Plant Contractor Test at ITB

– Future Sensor Site 2 (SS2) provides further accuracy, timeliness, custody, & resilience

Space Fence Program On-Track for 2019 Initial Operational Capability

Space Fence is a

system of S-

Band, ground-

based, phased

array-space

surveillance

radars that detect,

track and identify

satellites and orbital debris

Information on this slide has been assembled from material previously approved for public release: Case Number 66ABG-2017-0090

3

Need For Space Fence

3000+ Cataloged Fengyun-1C ASAT Debris Threaten Space Operations (Source: NASA Orbital Debris Quarterly News, Volume 18, Issue 1, January 2014 and Volume 13, Issue 1, January 2009)

IRIDIUM 33 / Cosmos 2251 Collision Creates 700+ Cataloged Objects(Source: NASA Orbital Debris Quarterly News, Volume 13, Issue 2, January 2009)

ISS Makes 5 Debris Avoidance Maneuvers in 2014(Source: NASA Orbital Debris Quarterly News, Volume 19, Issue 1, January 2015)

STS-126 Window Damage from Micro-meteoroid or Orbital Debris –Particle Estimated 0.15mm Diameter(Source: NASA Orbital Debris Quarterly News, Volume 13, Issue 2, January 2009)

Number of Countries in Space and Number of Objects in Orbit Continue to Grow(Source: NASA Orbital Debris Quarterly News, Volume 18, Issue 1, January 2014)

Fengyun-1C

ASAT Debris

IRIDIUM 33 / Cosmos

2251 Collision

2007

201420092008

Effective Tracking/Cataloging Needed to Handle the Growing Number of Objects in Orbit

Information on this slide has been assembled from material previously approved for public release: Case Number 66ABG-2016-0022

4

Space Fence Mission

• Ground-based system of S-Band radars that greatly enhance the USAF Space Surveillance Network

• Consists of two minimally manned radar sites and the Space Fence Operations Center

• Detects, tracks, catalogs objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

• Also provides significant capability in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO)

As the earth rotates, the two sensor sites complement each other to provide assured coverage

Space Fence System Architecture

Space Fence Uses Advanced S-Band Digital Beamforming (DBF) Radars toProvide Unprecedented Space Situation Awareness

Information on this slide has been assembled from material previously approved for public release: Case Number 66ABG-2016-0111

5

Array Architecture

Radar electronics are packaged into a modular facility structure to provide scalability

Array electronics serviceable from beneath array while operating for high availability. “Radar-on-a-board” digital

LRUs can be removed and replaced in <1.5 minutes.

• Integral radar / building design• Transmit and receive arrays are oriented to face

straight up • Scalable facility structure supports liquid cooled

coldplates which house the radar electronics• Radiator tiles are mounted on the top of the coldplates• “Radar-on-a-board” digital transmit and receive Line

Replaceable Units (LRUs) are mounted on the sides• Electronics easily removed and replaced while radar is

operating

Information on this slide has been assembled from material previously approved for public release: Case Number 66ABG-2016-0111

6

Sensor Site 1 Status

Photo taken: Jan 2018

Space Fence Facilities on Kwajalein Built and Installation and Checkout Complete

Information on this slide has been assembled from material previously approved for public release: Case Number 66ABG-2017-0090 & SMC PA 953

Transmit Array- 36K Elements

Receive Array- 86K Elements

Common Services Building

Liquid Cooling Operations Building

Calibration Tower

7

SOC Progress

• Completed Space Fence Operations

Center (SOC) installation in Huntsville, AL

• Completed initial system checkout

including hardware and software

• Integrates data and status from SS1 and

future Sensor Sites

• Enables remote operation of Sensors

Photo: USASMDC/ARSTRAT Public Affairs

Information on this slide has been assembled from material previously approved for public release: Case Number 66ABG-2017-0090

8

Integration Test Bed (ITB): Radar Facility Overview

• Scaled-down end-to-end system with end-item

cabinets, electronics and antenna support

structure

• Used for:

– Form / Fit check

– Hardware, software, firmware integration and test

– System test

– Requirements verification

– Training

– Extended operational test

– Maintainability demonstrations

– Remote resolution support of sensor site

integration issuesIntegration Test Bed in Moorestown, NJ -

Operational Since Jan 2016

Integration Test Bed Reduces Risk to SS1 Integration

Information on this slide has been assembled from material previously approved for public release: Case Number 66ABG-2017-0090

9

ITB Integration and Test Activities

• Scaled-down end-to-end ITB enables system testing and verification

– Scalability – Demonstrated building block scalability via tracking RSOs at various array sizes

– Calibration – Demonstrated element-level calibration to expected thresholds

– Digital Beamforming (DBF) – DBF verified by measuring beam patterns with test tower

– Accuracy – Angle accuracy using DBF outperforms traditional monopulse methods

– Simultaneity – Thousands of simultaneous beams for concurrent large volume surveillance plus

track on hundreds of objects

• Multi-Mission Performance

– Surveillance, cued search, and track operated concurrently at the ITB

– Well over 1000 unique RSOs trackedMeasured Prototype Patterns

Element-level array calibration and beam pattern

Sensor

Site 1

(SS1)

Cutaway image of array structures show the repeatable building blocks

ITB contains scaled-down

array size using same building

blocks

Scaled-down array permits verification of functionality and scaled performance

Measured prototype beam patterns used to verify element-level digitization array calibration and beam pattern performance.

SS1

Arrays

ITB

ITB Integration and Test Activities Risk Reduce and Verify Key System Tenets

Information on this slide has been assembled from material previously approved for public release: Case Number 66ABG-2017-0090

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ITB System Level Testing Highlights

• Requirements Verification

– Verified > 90% of all requirements CONUS

– Verified > 60% of system-level requirements CONUS

• Verification, Validation and Accreditation (VV&A)

– Verified ITB scaled array size performance

– Validating ITB models for scaled site size predicted performance

• Operational Risk Reduction

– Testing ITB as a mini operational site

– Demonstrated organic and networked / C2 capabilities

ITB Mission Operations Center

Flexible Coverage Demonstration ITB Data Collection Example

ITB Radar Facility

Integration Test Bed Enables ‘Operational’ Testing in Advance of Sensor Site 1

Information on this slide has been assembled from material previously approved for public release: Case Number 66ABG-2017-0090

11

Sensor Site 2 Benefits

• Planned for Exmouth, Western Australia

– Unexercised option on current contract

– Harold E. Holt Naval Communication Station

– Provides Geographic Diversity from SS1

• Improves accuracy, timeliness and custody

– Increases tracking opportunities / day

– Increases opportunities on low altitude objects

– Increases southern hemisphere coverage

– Enhances Deep Space coverage

• Provides SS1 backup and facilitates future CONOPS

– Improves Space Surveillance Network (SSN) resilience

– Balances mission load by having two SF Sites

– Enables either site to focus on SSA while other performs

dedicated tasking

Sensor Site 2 Provides Important Warfighter Capability Including Resiliency

Information on this slide has been assembled from material previously approved for public release: Case Number 66ABG-2017-0090

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Summary

• Space Fence Program has made significant progress

• Integration Test Bed reduced Sensor Site integration risk

– Operational and tracking objects since Jan 2016

• System Performance verified and validated against In-Plant Contractor Test at ITB

• Future Sensor Site 2 is required to fully achieve near term critical SSA mission needs

Space Fence Program On-Track for 2019 Initial Operational Capability

Information on this slide has been assembled from material previously approved for public release: Case Number 66ABG-2017-0090