2-14] INTERRELATIONS OF AEW, CIC, INTERCEPTOR SYSTEMS 79 



Resolution of the interceptors may be accomplished by a combination of 

 tactical doctrine and AEW radar resolution capability. For example, the 

 deck-launched interceptors are launched at the rate of 2 per minute. Thus, 

 between successive pairs of interceptors there is a range difference of about 

 12 miles. Each pair of interceptors may be instructed to maintain a given 

 relative spacing (e.g., 5 mi. or more). Assignment doctrine, in turn, must 

 be adjusted to be compatible with these tactics. If these steps are taken, 

 the AEW radar resolution capability dictated by the threat will also be 

 adequate for resolution of the separate interceptors. 



For an actual AEW design problem, many combinations of range and 

 angular resolution would be examined for a number of different threat con- 

 figurations and approach geometries. Such analysis would serve to place 

 upper bounds on the required resolution capability and would establish the 

 allowable trade-offs between range and angular resolution for the particular 

 system problem. The principles and types of reasoning used for the single 

 case examined in this paragraph could be employed for the more compre- 

 hensive analysis required for an actual design. In the example problem, 

 it was seen that angular resolution capabilities of less than 5° and range 

 resolutions of 0.5 to 1.0 n.mi. represented potentially useful ranges of 

 values. The final choice will depend upon the influence of other functions 

 and problems of the AEW radar system design. 



2-14 INTERRELATIONS OF THE AEW SYSTEM, THE CIC 

 SYSTEM, THE INTERCEPTOR SYSTEM, AND THE 

 TACTICAL PROBLEM 



Target tracking will follow detection. The tracking information is 

 first utilized for threat assessment; later, tracking of both targets and 

 interceptors provides the information needed for fighter direction. 



Three interrelated characteristics of the AEW /CIC system are of funda- 

 mental importance in determining the contributions of this system to 

 overall mission accomplishment. 



(1) Detection range 



(2) Accuracy 



(3) Information handling capacity (number of separate tracks, 

 etc.) 



In Paragraph 2-9, the detection range was found to be one of the critical 

 factors in determining the level of mission accomplishment along with the 

 individual interceptor effectiveness and the number of interceptors available 

 for defense. Implicit in the analysis, however, were the assumptions that 

 AEW /CIC system accuracy or data-handling capacity did not limit over- 

 all system performance. We must now determine the specific characteristics 

 that the AEW /CIC system must possess to make these assumptions valid. 



