Software Assurance

Our software development engineers understand the importance of performing software assurance (SwA) activities throughout the entire life cycle of the systems they develop and maintain for our defense partners and customers. Our SwA products and processes include:

  • Access Control
  • Audit and Accountability
  • Identification and Authentication
  • Incident Response
  • Media Protection
  • System and Communication Protection
  • Systems and Information Integrity

We provide software assurance services for  advanced weapon system programs, including:

Project

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)

Customer

Missile Defense Agency (MDA)

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is a transportable system that intercepts ballistic missiles inside or outside the atmosphere during their final, or terminal, phase of flight. THAAD uses a one-stage hit-to-kill interceptor to destroy incoming ballistic missile targets. THAAD is able to intercept incoming missiles both inside and just outside of the Earth’s atmosphere at a range of 200 kilometers, which mitigates the effects of weapons of mass destruction before they reach the ground. The ability to intercept both inside and outside the atmosphere makes THAAD an important part of layered missile defense concepts, as it falls between the exclusively exo-atmospheric Aegis interceptors and the exclusively endo-atmospheric Patriot interceptors.

There are four main components to THAAD: the launcher, interceptors, radar, and fire control. The launcher is mounted on a truck for mobility and storability. There are eight interceptors per launcher. Current Army configurations of THAAD batteries include six launchers and 48 interceptors. The THAAD system utilizes the Army Navy / Transportable Radar Surveillance (AN/TPY-2) radar to detect and track enemy missiles at a range of up to 1,000 kilometers. The fire control system is the communication and data-management backbone and is equipped with an indigenous THAAD Fire Control and Communications system. The Command, Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) also provides tracking and cueing information for THAAD from other regional sensors on Aegis and Patriot systems.

Software Development

THAAD Fire Control

Communications IPT

Developed launcher and radar interfaces

Battle Management IPT

Requirements development

Implemented battle planning algorithms

Optimized algorithms to improve performance

Software Architecture

THAAD Fire Control

Resolution of inter process communications issues

Developed architecture concepts

THAAD Launcher

Development of software interface definition

Controlled radars and launchers to manage
engagement & destruction of target

Causal analysis & resolution

Project

Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) )

Customer

United States Army

The Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) is the future command and control system for U.S. Army air defense assets. It is intended is to integrate the communications between weapon launchers, radars, and the operators, allowing an air defense unit, such as a Patriot battery, to fire its interceptors using information provided by the radar of another. 1 In some cases, this integration will permit an Army air defense unit to defend a larger area, as the unit’s engagement zone will be less limited by the view of its own organic radar. It will also reduce the chance of interceptor wastage, by reducing the chance that two or more air defense units will engage the same target. Once deployed, IBCS will take the place of seven other Army command and control systems currently in use.

IBCS Testing
The system has been used in a number of tests beginning in May 2015. In a test conducted on April 8, 2016, IBCS operated against dual threats, a cruise and ballistic missile. It displayed its intended capability by linking sensors from one defense system to interceptors from another, defeating both incoming missiles.

Software Test & Evaluation

Author 2nd rev Software Test Plan CDRL document

Simulation Scenario Requirements development

 

Software Test Description development

System and Software Use Case review and analysis