Evaluation of HRI payloads for rapid precision target localization to provide information to the tactical warfighter

• Main Author: Miller, Glenn A.
• Other Authors: Jones, Kevin
• Published: Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School 2012
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/5512

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. === High Resolution Imagery (HRI) with precise location and targeting data for the warfighter has become an integral part in today's asymmetric warfare environment. This thesis conducted practical testing of systems and employed qualitative research methods to evaluate HRI payloads for SUAS to provide rapid precision target localization to the warfighter. The research attempted to evaluate new HRI systems integration with the current SUAS's to produce accurate or reduced error images for intelligence and targeting data. The targeting solutions were to be evaluated against those calculated solutions achieved on a manned aircraft. This part of the evaluation was not completed due to the discovery of radio frequency noise interference induced by systems modifications required to fit the small confines of the SUAS platform. Targeting solution research was conducted using archival images from a manned flight mission. Once the system and technology is modified to eliminate the radio frequency noise there is a high probability of successfully proving the desired capability.