76 THE DEVELOPMENT OF WEAPONS SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 



Threat assessment and tactical decision must occur within 3 minutes 

 following initial detection at 255 n.mi. from fleet center. During this 

 time, enough information must be obtained to allow the CIC system to 

 compute an estimate of the position, speed, altitude, heading, and number 

 composition of a potential target complex. The specified targets can travel 

 about 25 n.mi. in 3 minutes; therefore this information must be gathered 

 and processed when the target is at ranges of 125 to 150 n.mi. from the 

 AEW aircraft in order to provide sufficient problem lead time. 



As a first step, the sensitivity of system performance to the resolution 

 quality of airborne early warning information must be examined. Then 

 the problem of providing the necessary resolution by appropriate AEW 

 radar design parameters may be treated. 



The defined target complex consists of 20 targets spaced 5 n.mi. apart 

 (see Fig. 2-7). Now, consider the following problem: Suppose that 

 during the threat assessment phase only 10 separate targets are indicated 

 by the AEW radar information (such a condition could be caused by in- 

 sufficient resolution in the AEW system — i.e. a circumstance which could 

 cause two or more targets to appear as only one target on the radar dis- 

 play). What effect does this condition have upon overall system operation ? 



This question may be answered by considering the effect of this condition 

 upon each phase of the air-defense operation. 



First of all, the 6 CAP aircraft would be directed to engage the threat 

 elements. Simultaneously, deck-ready interceptors would be launched at 

 the rate of 2 per minute. To ensure high target attrition, tactical doctrine 

 might dictate that at least 2 interceptors be employed for every potential 

 target. This would require launching at least 14 deck-ready aircraft in 

 response to a 10-target threat. Thus, for the first 10 minutes following 

 initial detection (3 minutes delay time plus 7 minutes for launching 14 

 deck-ready interceptors), the conduct of the air battle would be in no 

 wise different from what would have taken place if all 20 targets had been 

 indicated initially. 



During this 10-minute interval, the threat will have closed to about 

 175 n.mi. from fleet center. At this range the 6 CAP aircraft will engage 

 separate elements of the raid (see Fig. 2-12). For these interceptions to 

 be vectored successfully, at least 6 of the separate target elements must be 

 resolved and tracked by this time. 



In addition, if we assume that the number of deck-ready aircraft kanched 

 is a direct function of the number of known targets, it is necessary to begin 

 to distinguish more than 10 objects by the time the threat has reached 

 175 n.mi. from fleet center (or 75 n.mi. from the AEW aircraft). In fact, 

 to prevent delay in deck-ready aircraft launchings, the number of targets 

 counted must increase at a minimum rate of 1 per minute until all 20 are 

 separately resolved. 



