Electronic attack against boost-phase ICBM defense system

In this paper, the different electronic attack (EA) techniques that can be deployed to reduce the effectiveness of boost-phase target sensing, tracking, and intercepting are examined. The purpose is to investigate the effects of the EA on the performance of the radio frequency (RF) sensors used within a boost-phase ballistic missile defense sensor system. The EA types investigated include barrage noise, chaff tactics, and the use of expendable decoys. The reduction of the radar cross-section is also addressed and predicted using a physical optics approach. The desired effect of the EA against the RF sensors is degradation of the target track quality, thereby forcing the sensors to use other methods to estimate the target position (e.g., triangulation). An inadequately designed sensor fusion scheme can lead to loss of target track, which is undesirable in a boost-phase ballistic missile intercept system.