Iceberg Detection Experiments 



Results of three separate test flights (January 30, April 29 and IVIay 2, 2001) are reported 

 here. 



January 30, 2001 



Due to high seas and severely weathered Iceberg targets, the first test flight provided the 

 most challenging iceberg detection environment of the three test flights. The goals were 

 simple: determine if MSS 5000 displayed the same iceberg targets as the film and 

 determine how reliably the iceberg targets could be detected using MSS 5000. 



Description of the Experiment . The test used five icebergs as targets, four of which were 

 originally detected by the AN/APS-137 Fonyvard-Looking Airborne Radar (FLAR) 

 operator, who identified them as icebergs. When the aircraft descended to photograph 

 the icebergs and obtain size estimates before conducting the MSS 5000 test, another 

 iceberg was detected visually. This iceberg, the smallest (#4), was never detected on 

 FLAR. Because of low light conditions, the photographs were poor quality, but the ice 

 observer in the window was able to estimate iceberg sizes (Table 2) with a binocular 

 reticule. The wave height at the time of low-level visual survey was estimated to be 5 

 meters and there were many whitecaps on the ocean surface. 



A parallel search with 10 NM track spacing (Figure 3), was conducted from 6400 feet, a 

 typical IIP reconnaissance altitude. The search pattern was designed to obtain iceberg 

 detection opportunities at various ranges up to 50 NM using both the left and right radar 

 antennas. A detection opportunity is defined simply as the target passing through the 

 radar's swath. The orientation of the search legs was chosen without regard to the 

 direction of the wind and waves. 



Table 2. List of iceberg targets for the January 30, 2001 evaluation. 



Note: The size class was determined by the iceberg's length. Iceberg #5 was on the borderline between 

 small and medium and therefore, according to HP's standard practice, is classified as a medium iceberg. 

 All the icebergs were in an advanced stage of deterioration and did not extend more than 5 to 10 meters 

 above the ocean surface. In fact, none of the icebergs met the minimum height requirement to be 

 classified as a medium iceberg (16 meters above the water). 



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