Missile Defense

A robust missile defense architecture is critical for protecting the United States against the threat of ballistic missiles.

Since its founding in 2008, ExoAnalytic Solutions has been committed to developing technologies for the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to enable robust missile defense architectures. We develop software algorithms for target detection, tracking, characterization, and discrimination using data from radar and optical sensors.

Focal Plane Processing

ExoAnalytic Solutions is a world leader in algorithm development for processing real-time images from visible and infrared CCD cameras. Our algorithms provide end-to-end processing of raw frames, yielding positional and brightness data for objects in the scene while filtering out unwanted observations from stars, debris, clouds, etc. This filtering enables our advanced processing algorithms to estimate object positions with sub-pixel precision.

Tracking and Prediction

The MDA’s Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) requires algorithms which convert target detections from radar and optical sensors into orbit tracks. This allows the BMDS to predict where targets will be in the future and enables downstream discrimination algorithms to determine which of the tracked objects need to be intercepted. ExoAnalytic Solutions helps to provide this critical capability by developing the algorithms which create integrated system tracks.

Characterization and Discrimination

During a missile defense engagement, most tracked objects are non-threatening (e.g. debris, fuel tanks, hardware, etc.) and should be treated differently than hostile objects. ExoAnalytic Solutions develops advanced algorithms which rapidly and autonomously determine the nature of each object and decide which object(s) to intercept. This process, called discrimination, is perhaps the most critical function of the BMDS aside from tracking.

C2BMC

The BMDS is centrally controlled from the Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) element, which is responsible for tasking sensors, synchronizing data, allocating weapons, and optimizing the response to threats. ExoAnalytic Solutions develops algorithms for the C2BMC which perform sensor and weapon allocation, deliver integrated data fusion for system tracking and discrimination, and enable handover of the information to the interceptor.