The US Air Force uses state-of-the-art map technology that provides terrain structure information for reconnaissance and targeted information for military operations.
The details were disclosed in a December 21 media release announcing the test and assessment squadron that was being conducted on the Map Synthet Aperture Radar (SAR) assessment.
According to a recently released service press release, two F-15Es dropped joint Joint Direct Attack ammunition during this test, while other weapon systems including F-15Es, F-35s, F-16s, FA-18s, RQ-4, MQ-9 , U-2 and joint partners used SAR mapping technology to assess whether the bombs hit and destroyed the intended targets.
“The goal of the test is to determine our ability and schedule to conduct a real-time strike assessment using synthetic aperture radar maps,” said Maj Derek Anderson, 706th Squadron Operations Director. “Radar maps with synthetic aperture allow manned and unmanned platforms to map target areas from a great distance and through the weather.”
This test was ultimately designed to find a new way to effectively complete the chain of kills – to confirm the destruction of the target. SAR mapping technology is not a new technology, but with this test it can be used to solve a problem for the warfighter in dynamic combat.
“If we operate in Europe or the Pacific, we can expect weather conditions and the need to stay outside the operating range of current electro-optical and infrared sensors due to threats,” said Anderson. “This test helped us develop tactics, techniques and procedures at the platform and package level that influence decisions at the operational and strategic level.”
Although the test was administered and conducted by the 53rd Wing, many of the participating operators were from the US Air Force Reserve’s 926th Wing and demonstrated a TFI effort. The test also included strategic information, surveillance and reconnaissance resources, and US Navy combat aircraft.
It is worth noting that the target at the test site was visually similar to the radar systems made in Russia from the S-300 and S-400 complexes.
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