Target Recognition Technologies For Enhancing Combat Effectiveness In Real Time

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Target Recognition Technologies For Enhancing
Combat Effectiveness In Real Time Gp Capt KP
Gowd INDIAN AIR FORCE, INDIA
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Scope

• Introduction
• Aim
• Necessity
• Target Recognition theory
• Proposed methodology
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• Future scope

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Introduction

• In modern day warfare the defensive capability
  and preparedness of a nation to respond to
  surprise attack or otherwise plays very crucial
  role. This capability demonstrates the potential
  of the nation to sustain the war and ultimately
  plays a defining role in deciding the winner.
• The battlefield scenario and mission application
  are constantly changing. It is crucial that
  combat commanders and war fighters have a real
  time application of matching weapons along with
  the relevant target recognition so that
  requirement can be rapidly configured to meet the
  ever changing information needs.

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Introduction

• For an effective military combat effectiveness
  the sensor to shooter loop is the most
  significant factor. In this loop the detection
  and identification are the two crucial functions
  followed by passing the information to the
  shooter (weapon platform).
• The response time required from the time the
  hostile targets are launched to the time it is
  engaged is rapidly plummeting due to the
  advancement in the weapon technology.

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Introduction

• Therefore it becomes imperative to cut down on
  the time in the sensor to shooter loop and at the
  same time what kind of weapon is rightly to be
  used will be most critical in the modern Network
  Centric Warfare for enhancing combat
  effectiveness.
• For using the right weapon the target recognition
  becomes critical with in the same time frame.
  Target recognition meaning whether it is
  T-80DU/T-96/T-98/any other tank or whether it is
  F-16/F18 and so on. In this paper concepts are
  formulated for recognising the target the time it
  is detected and identified.

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Introduction

• Future wars would be space age wars and the
  battle field would be increasingly transparent by
  day as well as night and in most weather
  conditions.
• Today almost every area of planning in the
  military field depends on space based systems.
• Right from strategic targeting of
  Inter-continental Ballistic missiles down to
  cover operations by special forces, there is an
  essential space link.

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Introduction

• Military commander can hold a four way
  conversation with ground, sea, air and submarine
  Units, thousands of kilometers away through
  Satellites.
• Space is the new high ground from which
  commanders might direct operations in any future
  wars.
• Military application of Satellites thus has a
  force multiplier effect on the capability of
  military forces, meaning that they allow forces
  to be used more effectively and efficiently.

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Aim

• The aim of this paper is to propose a Aero Space
  based Platform System which intends to provide
  target recognition in addition to the detection,
  identification and dissemination time in the
  sensor to shooter loop thereby ensuring almost a
  near real time response by a matching weapon
  system.

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Necessity

• In the present day scenario in most of the
  systems the detection method is different from
  weapon delivery system, thereby injecting
  unnecessary inherent time delay into the system.
• Another major factor in this scenario is what
  kind of matching weapon is required to be used to
  effectively nullify the incoming weapon without
  wasting the critical time.
• For this target recognition is required to be
  superimposed on detection and identification
  system. This ensures matching weapon is
  effectively used at right time and also the
  sensor to shooter loop will reduce considerably.

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Necessity

• This concept paper proposes a Aero Space
  Platform based system which will address
  following critical issues in the sensor to
  shooter loop-
• (a) Completely automated target detection,
  identification and recognition as soon the combat
  field is activated or full scale war is broken
  out in AOI initially and as reqd subsequently.
• (b) Post identification and recognition, the
  details of this target will be passed onto the
  decision making/command centre and to the weapon
  system as targeting information.

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Necessity

• (c) This solution will provide an integrated
  solution to the Military Commander, communication
  and data processing requirement of the system.
• (d) No longer the Military effectiveness is
  simply a function of delivering ordnance to
  target. Decision to launch matching weapon can be
  taken in real time and in all weather conditions.

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Target Recognition Theory

• All human beings have an in built bio-memory.
  They store the shape, size and other physical
  features including specific features of things
  from the images of the worldly objects as seen by
  them and recognize the objects earlier seen
  whenever they come across a similar object later
  on.
• Even specific sounds/voices of particular
  humans/animals are stored and recognised later on
  the brain stores and matches similar sound/voice
  on hearing them again.
• For example, whenever we come across photographs
  of Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Einstein, Mother
  Teresa, Rabindranath Tagore, the input images of
  these legends are compared in our brain memory,
  after matching physical features we recognise
  them correctly.

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Target Recognition Theory

• Similarly. A radar operator / Int operator can
  recognise the radar target after observing the
  dynamic image of the target visually either by
  comparison of images stored in his brain or
  displayed in front of him.
• In the same way as our brain processes the image
  data, radar target image data can also be
  processed electronically for automatic target
  recognition by comparing the images in a library
  stored.
• Every target has got specific shape, size and
  specific features at specific locations on the
  target which is the important for image
  comparison for target recognition.

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Proposed Methodology

• This paper proposes following methodology-
• (a) A constellation of LEO satellites for
  detection and identification of the target. This
  constellation will have a mixture of optical, SAR
  and IR payload to achieve a round the clock
  surveillance capability in all weather
  conditions. This constellation will be placed so
  as to cover AOI initially and subsequently as
  required.
• (b) These satellites will have the on board
  capability to identify and recognize the target
  as soon it is imaged and detected. This will be
  attained by configuring the satellite to have an
  onboard/ground based data processing capability.

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Proposed Methodology

• (c) This on board image data processing system
  will have a comprehensive reference image data
  library about all possible targets and their
  optical/radar/IR characteristics. This library
  will be updated from ground on a regular basis.
  Alternately the image data processing and
  comparison facility can also be placed in
  Geostationary Satellite along with reference
  image library.
• (d) On identification the target information
  along with its recognition image details will be
  relayed to the geo-stationary satellite which
  will also have a AOI/global footprint. Also this
  information will be simultaneously passed to the
  other LEO satellites following it so that the
  target can be continuously monitored and the
  target information will be continuously updated.

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Proposed Methodology

• (e) Upon receipt of the information from LEO
  satellites the geo-stationary satellite will
  relay this information to the decision
  making/command centre and the weapon system
  simultaneously, so that the weapon system uses
  this information as targeting information and
  waits for the final confirmation for launching
  matching weapon from the command centre.
• (f) Meanwhile the targeting information would be
  continuously updated from the geo-stationary
  satellites.
• (g) Additionally, as a confirmatory measure
  this information can be shared with other sensor
  networks so that continuous monitoring of the
  target takes place from different sources.

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Proposed Methodology
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Discussion

• The modern society has entered a new age, which
  will have profound impact on the way people live,
  work and fight future wars. No longer the
  Military effectiveness is simply a function of
  delivering ordnance to target.
• The neutralisation of target requires target
  information data for usage of matching weapon.
  This has led to the quest of greater transparency
  of the battlefield and target recognition.
• At present, even though detection and target
  identification and the data processing
  methodologies are available but electronic
  recognition in real time and pool proof
  methodologies are not available.

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Discussion

• However, due to advancement in technology the
  data processing time is continuously reducing.
  Also miniaturisation of processors in the near
  future may allow onboard data processing. Even
  satellites size is decreasing and images can be
  obtained with suitable sensors in for all weather
  conditions.
• As India is poised to become a major player in
  aerospace. Provision of this proposed system of
  constellation of LEO-GEO stationary satellites
  can be planned and achievable. Another major
  problem is to get a reference data set to be used
  for comparison especially of enemy target images
  for recognition

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Discussion

• The dimensions, sizes, shapes and specific
  features of all targets including enemy targets
  are available for generation of their images for
  reference data sets. Present day simulation
  techniques will come very handy in making
  reference image data sets.

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Conclusion

• Though existing detection and identification
  systems are available target recognition feature
  is not available/added in to the image data.
• The main contribution of this concept paper is to
  formulate and provide the Field/Formation
  commanders /Air Defence commanders with the
  following advantages through Aero Space Platform
  based technology.
• To provide target recognition in near real time
  and in all weather conditions.
• To cut down reaction time for the Military
  commanders to take a right decision.

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Conclusion

• To provide an aid to Military Commander to use a
  matching weapon since target is recognised in
  near real time.
• Target Recognition and matching weapon display
  can be automated for Military Commander.
• Large area of interest as deemed fit by
  respective Military commanders can be covered.
• The most significant contribution of this paper
  is conception of aerospace platform for target
  recognition, through comparison and display in
  front of Commanders in real time for taking a
  launch decision with a suitable matching weapon.

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Conclusion

• The target weapon whether it is
  T-80DU/T-96/T-98/any other tank or F-16/F-18 or
  which particular missile can be recognised in
  near real time.
• The second most significant contribution of this
  proposal are as follows which are feasible and
  achievable with present day technologies and
  capabilities.
• The idea of onboard processing and possessing
  the aerospace capability to achieve dynamic image
  length, wing span.
• Specific features location on the surface of
  particular weapon, extraction, selection.
• Comparison with onboard image reference library.
• Display the target recognition in front of
  Military commander anywhere in the area of
  interest for decision to launch a matching weapon

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Future Scope

• Future Scope exists for research /realisation of
  on board processing, all weather real time
  imaging, generation and storage of all weapon
  image reference data library, comparison with
  reference image data, transferring of imaged data
  to GEO satellite from LEO satellites and give the
  target recognition to Military Commanders for
  taking decision to launch matching weapons in
  near real time.

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GEO
LEO
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Thank you