Modeling the Environment to Train Radar Operators for Littoral Combat Ships (METRO-LCS) Navy STTR FY2014.A Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2014.A Topic No.: N14A-T012 Topic Title: Modeling the Environment to Train Radar Operators for Littoral Combat Ships (METRO-LCS) Proposal No.: N14A-012-0134 Firm: Charles River Analytics Inc. 625 Mount Auburn Street Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138-4555 Contact: Wayne Thornton Phone: (617) 491-3474 Web Site: www.cra.com Abstract: Current systems for training Navy surface ship radar operators cannot simulate the effects of varied environmental conditions on radar performance. Instead, operators must train on these effects during at-sea operations. Such unsystematic training cannot prepare operators to optimize system employment for many expected conditions. Moreover, operators on Littoral Combat Ships (LCSs) must be fully qualified before reporting aboard. The Navy needs a simulator that models the effects of diverse atmospheric and geographical factors on radar performance, accurately models radar targets to support tactical scenarios, and readily integrates with the LCS shore-based trainers (SBTs). To train LCS radar operators for all expected conditions and locales, Charles River Analytics proposes to build a software tool for Modeling the Environment to Train Radar Operators for Littoral Combat Ships (METRO-LCS). METRO-LCS will incorporate an ensemble of radiofrequency propagation and clutter models, scattering models to simulate targets, high-fidelity emulations of model outputs to enable rapid manipulation of output data, and a process management function that balances output fidelity with computational speed. By using a service-oriented architecture, METRO-LCS will readily integrate with LCS SBTs while reducing the cost of ownership-including the costs of modifying software, adding new capabilities, and integrating with other radar training systems. Benefits: We expect the full-scope METRO-LCS system to have immediate and tangible benefit for various types of simulators and training systems related to military sensor systems-including radar, electronic warfare (EW), and other sensor processing systems-as a well as simulators and training systems related to radiofrequency (RF) communications. We also intend to incorporate specific algorithms from METRO-LCS-including the adaptive process management function that balances model fidelity with computational speed-to enhance our existing AgentWorksT commercial product, thereby increasing its appeal to new customers and markets. Return