Air & Missile Defense

Our Air & Missile Defense capabilities include Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL)-based testing of hypersonics, the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), pre-mission prediction, validation of threat models, mission planning and data recording, and model-based systems engineering (MBSE). We are also a leading provider of advanced modeling, simulation, and extended reality (XR) environments that enhance warfighter readiness and improve weapon system effectiveness.

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Air & Missile Defense

Our Air & Missile Defense capabilities include Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL)-based testing of hypersonics, the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), pre-mission prediction, validation of threat models, mission planning and data recording, and model-based systems engineering (MBSE). We are also a leading provider of advanced modeling, simulation, and extended reality (XR) environments that enhance warfighter readiness and improve weapon system effectiveness.

Air & Missile Defense Overview
Extended Reality (XR) Environments • Advanced Modeling & Simulation (M&S) • Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) Test

Air & Missile Defense Mission

With cutting-edge extended reality (XR) training technology that helps warfighters best prepare and perform, advanced modeling & simulation capabilities that solve complex problems while assessing vulnerabilities, and HWIL testing expertise, BlueHalo has all the solutions needed to fully support the Air & Missile Defense mission.

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Air & Missile Defense Solutions

Mission-enabling Missile Defense Support Across the Battlespace

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Extended Reality (XR) Environments

BlueHalo is a world leader in simulation and training for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and a trusted provider of virtual operator-in-the-loop simulators for various weapon systems (Stinger Missile, M4 Rifle, Carl Gustaf gunner).

Virtual-Stinger-Trainer

Virtual Stinger Trainer (VST)

The VST is the first and only fielded Virtual Reality based MANPADS training device that provides Stinger Team Crew Training that supports portable or fixed training sites. VST provides the Stinger Team (Team Leader and Gunner) operational and tactical training in a 360° immersive, realistic battlefield environment, including visual aircraft recognition (VACR). The VST instructor station provides a selection of instructor defined training scenarios that include varying terrain, moving aircraft targets and countermeasures. VST includes a detailed AAR/scoring presentation of Gunner actions.

Reconfigurable Virtual Trainer (RVT)

Reconfigurable Virtual Trainer™(RVT)

The RVT provides operational and tactical small squad training in a 360° immersive, realistic battlefield environment, including visual aircraft recognition (VACR). RVT is highly transportable and scalable to fit most training needs. The system’s visual system, weapons, and training assets are untethered and provide full freedom of movement within the training arena. RVT allows users to dynamically reconfigure each training scenario to immerse trainees in any geographic area in the world 24/7.

IMTS

Improved Moving Target Simulator (IMTS)

IMTS is a fully immersive Man-Portable Air-Defense System (MANPADS) operator training system. IMTS features a 38’-diameter dome providing trainees a 360° high-resolution view of the synthetic world around them along with 3D sound of the environment. Up to three MANPADS teams plus a machine gun team can simultaneously train against threat aircraft and ground vehicles. IMTS weapons match form and function to actual weapons while providing real-time position and orientation tracking against targets in the dome. Operator performance is continually measured by the Instructor Operator Station (IOS) and includes recording and playback for after-action review.  Instructors can rapidly tailor training exercises to set trainee locations in the virtual world and configure the environment’s time of day, weather and atmospherics.

VAMPIRE® UAS Embedded Training

VAMPIRE® is a fully embedded UAS training simulation for all operator functions and emergency procedures for family-of-systems sUAS, including Raven®, Wasp™, and Puma™. VAMPIRE® runs on fielded Panasonic Toughbook and Ground Control Station with no modification to fielded hardware and software, so you can train as you fight – any where, any time.

Vampire® Bi-Directional Advanced Trainer (BAT)

VAMPIRE® BAT is an embedded trainer that runs on fielded One System Remote Viewing Terminal (OSRVT) hardware and trains operators on basic OSRVT operations as well as bi-directional capability. It simulates operator interaction with UAS without a requirement for live flight and uses geo-specific terrain and tactical scenarios to train operators in advanced OSRVT operations. The trainer also includes embedded training videos and Interactive Multimedia Instruction (IMI). VAMPIRE® BAT runs on fielded Panasonic Toughbook and Ground Control Station with no modification to fielded hardware and software, so you can train as you fight – anywhere, any time.

VAMPIRE® Institutional Training System (ITS)

An extension of BlueHalo’s successful VAMPIRE® embedded training system, we offer a classroom training enabler for sUAS with Vampire ITS.

Advanced Modeling & Simulation

BlueHalo’s industry-leading Modeling & Simulation (M&S) expertise solves complex problems while assessing vulnerabilities and reducing project risk.  Detailed planning and analysis of complex systems combined with the execution of cutting-edge DevSecOps processes and the optimized application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning offers first-in-class services and solutions to BlueHalo customers.

Cyber Engineering & Analysis

Advanced Software Engineering

BlueHalo’s team of software engineering experts utilize cutting edge development practices and tools to deliver the following advanced next generation solutions:

  • Cyber security with an emphasis on DevSecOps pipelines
  • Vertical and horizontal scalable solutions
  • Microservice and serverless API driven architecture
  • Cloud computing and deployment architectures
  • Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence (ML/AI)-driven optimization algorithms
  • Big data analytics and data storage solutions
  • Platform agnostic deployment capabilities
  • Advanced Modeling and Simulation (M&S) development and integration
AMD Software Assurance & Mission Analysis

Software Assurance & Mission Analysis

Our Software Assurance team of experts identify solutions to software and system challenges throughout the Engineering Life Cycle for key enabling technologies implemented in both real software and simulations, and perform component, systems, and system-of-systems level evaluation and analysis.  We utilize software, mathematical models, simulations, etc., to perform detailed planning, studies, and analysis of complex systems. Capabilities include:

  • Software independent verification and validation
  • Modeling and Simulation (M&S) verification, validation, and accreditation
  • Threat, vulnerability, and risk analysis
  • Technology assessment for Foreign Military Sales (FMS)
  • Critical Program Information (CPI) and mission criticality assessment
  • Integration and interoperability testing and analysis
  • Requirements analysis
  • Mission planning
  • Performance assessment
  • Algorithm specification
  • Analysis of alternatives
  • Analysis tool development
Complex System Analysis

Complex System Analysis

BlueHalo optimizes aeronautical system performance, airspace usage, and flight safety using high performance computing and big data analytics.  Our big data processing, mathematical, and statistical analytical approaches are used to evaluate aviation safety and evaluate the performance of aeronautical systems. Our team creates systems to assess the design and performance of propulsion, guidance, and control systems. Our analytical tools provide verification and validation of novel designs where traditional analytical methods cannot be used. Using statistical and mathematical methods to merge historical data sets, researchers get more use out of existing experimental data.

System Architecture MBSE

System Architecture/MBSE

BlueHalo specifies and develops complex, large-scale software and simulation architectures to support multiple intended uses. We utilize the latest in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) practices to perform requirements generation, functional analysis, design synthesis, and detailed architectural design. Our team develops MBSE products and artifacts supporting use case specification, requirements documentation and traceability, functional analysis, system design, test definition, and system verification/validation.

HWIL Test Integration

Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) Test

BlueHalo has the systems, solutions, and specialized expertise to perform and support a variety of Air & Missile Defense testing, such as Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE) testing, HWIL and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) performance and algorithm testing, and Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) testing.  Read more below about our testing capabilities.

Electronic Warfare (EW) Threat Simulators

The core technology developed at BlueHalo enables multi-mission Electronic Warfare Threat Simulators that are capable of replicating effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP), beam widths, and waveform characteristics. This solution provides mission diversity by supporting electronic warfare waveforms and systems on the MSDA core technology base. Currently under development at BlueHalo, the MSDA architecture supports electronic warfare waveforms and processing.

Our Multi-band Software Defined Antenna (MSDA), used in our SATCOM solutions, enables two-way communications between multiple spatial, spectral, and temporal diverse targets. It is an LSC-band in-tile beamformer with 12+ targets, half-duplex receive/transmit (Rx/Tx) channels, and ±60 degree scan volumes in Azimuth and Elevation. The MSDA architecture is extensible across multiple mission areas.

BlueHalo’s advanced RF channel emulation solution, RFNest, provides a realistic propagation environment. It detects problems with the RF system that are normally discovered in field testing and improves design duration, testing iterations, and overall quality. RFnest supports the design and testing of electronic warfare (EW), as well as tactical communications, radar, SATCOM, avionics, 5G/4G, and internet of things (IoT), also helping RF designers to complete critical projects on time and within budget.

Surrogate-Missiles

Surrogate Missiles

BlueHalo’s Missile Airframe Simulation Testbed (MAST) is a recoverable surrogate missile system capable of emulating the flight dynamics and spectral/spatial/temporal signatures of Man Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS). The purpose of MAST is to provide a low-cost, easily-acquired, non-destructive test capability for Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE).

BlueHalo provides missile airframe design, mechanical Finite Element Analysis (FEA), and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)/aerodynamics analysis. We also offer development of avionics components, including rechargeable battery systems, power distribution, flight computers, and on-board data collection and recording, and ground support equipment, including fire control systems, launch software, and telemetry data collection hardware and software. Our other Surrogate Missile capabilities include:

  • Real-time Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) simulations, simulation modeling, and 6-DOF development
  • Flight software and Guidance and Control algorithm development
  • Flight test planning, coordination, and execution
  • Test scenario development and missile performance analysis
Avenger

Test Support

BlueHalo plans, coordinates, and oversees execution of distributed test venues and events. We utilize our team’s expertise in Modeling and Simulation (M&S), interface protocols, system integration, and configuration to support test activities. Out tailored test support includes:

  • Scenario development
  • Test case specification
  • Configuration control
  • Architecture certification
  • Data collection and analysis
  • Hardware/Software maintenance
EO

HWIL and Threat Modeling

BlueHalo is the originator of DoD PC-based real-time multi-spectral scene generation (SPIE 2007), called the Joint Scientific Image Generator (JSIG). Our team pioneered and remains at the cutting edge of real-time radiometrically, spatially, and temporally accurate graphics processor (GPU) rendering for advanced sensor Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) performance and algorithm testing for space, surveillance, and tactical sensor applications.

Our team has developed the JSIG Suite of tools to meet the demands of “Test and Evaluation” for traditional and non-traditional (e.g. Neuromorphic) sensor systems and simulations to include:

  • Performance and algorithm (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance – ISTAR) testing
  • System capability, rapid capability, emerging threats, and risk assessments
  • Deterministic real-time and non-real-time requirements
  • Performance and scalability to meet high-bandwidth / low-latency requirements (large format, multi-channel / high framerate)
  • Tunable high fidelity radiometric modeling of threats, phenomenology, and backgrounds (including whole-earth backgrounds)

Contact Us

Want to learn more about our Air and Missile Defense solutions? We look forward to hearing from you.