Virtual Flight Testing - A Versatile Approach to Evaluate Future GPS Anti-Jam Technologies

Dana Howell, Denice Jacobs, Bruce Rahn and Gary Green

Abstract:	The Antenna WaveFront Simulator (AWFS) was first developed by AFRL/SNAR in 1993 to support the evaluation of Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna (CRPA) anti-jam Antenna Electronics Units (AEs), including the AE-1/1A, GPS Antenna System (GAS-1), a munition nuller, and digital beamforming nuller. In recent years, it has also been reconfigured to model radio frequency (RF) ionospheric scintillation effects on GPS receiver performance. This unique hardware-in-the-loop simulator has now evolved into a virtual flight test (VFT) capability to meet the ever-increasing challenges associated with GPS Modernization (Lm) and anti-jam research. GIANT, a mission-level AF Analysis Toolkit candidate developed by Veridian for the Navigation Warfare (Navwar) Program, has been interfaced with the AWFS to provide a realistic environment simulation (e.g., terrain effects and propagation losses), platform dynamics, and resultant measures of effectiveness (MOEs). This capability, coupled with additional M&S features such as satellite dynamics, Inertial Navigation System (INS) aiding, high powered jammers, and realistic antenna modeling, provides a unique simulation testbed to thoroughly stress future Lm technologies “on the fly.” This is especially critical since future flight testing of GPS Modernization technologies will be extremely limited due to FAA restrictions and near-term Lm satellite coverage. Furthermore, as GPS user platforms migrate to space, the concept of flight testing in space is nebulous at best. Consequently, it is the premise of this paper that a VFT capability will enable the overstressing of the system in any environment and provide the warfighter with meaningful measures of performance (MOPs) in terms of weapons effectiveness and platform attrition. This paper describes the AWFS-GIANT interface design, the verification process, and planned applications.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 2000 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 26 - 28, 2000 Pacific Hotel Disneyland Anaheim, CA
Pages:	670 - 678
Cite this article:	Howell, Dana, Jacobs, Denice, Rahn, Bruce, Green, Gary, "Virtual Flight Testing - A Versatile Approach to Evaluate Future GPS Anti-Jam Technologies," Proceedings of the 2000 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, Anaheim, CA, January 2000, pp. 670-678.
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