ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY TEST & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (ATTDP)

The ATTDP continues and extends the efforts performed under the original ATP contract that went into effect on September 19, 1989, and continues through ATP IV, which took effect on September 25, 2012. Under ATP I, the essential capability to perform hypervelocity/aerophysics research in support of strategic, theater, and tactical missile defense requirements were established. Test programs in support of anti-satellite, lethality and target hardening, kill assessment, and Patriot warhead development were accomplished during ATP I. Test programs in support of Logistics Management Institute, Man-Machine Interface and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense kill assessment input for computational lethality codes; advanced tactical long-rod penetrators and tactical nosecones; and research in kinetic energy were accomplished in ATP II. This effort demonstrated capability to perform experiments and analyses applicable to the Missile Defense Agency (MDA); USASMDC; U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM); Defense Nuclear Agency; U.S. Air Force; Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); and private industry. Later, Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) testing and improvement, flight vehicle weather encounter, lower velocity launch operations, and reverse ballistics test capabilities were established under ATP III. ATP IV was a continuation of the type of efforts performed under ATP I through III. The hypervelocity aerophysics research capability permits sub-scale to full-scale ground based tests. Facility upgrades implemented under ATP I - IV, allowed Y2 scale replicas of theater missile defense interceptors to be launched over most of the expected range of intercept strike velocities, strike angles, and interceptor pitch angles. Ground tests provide a relatively low cost/fast response method to obtain experimental data of systems concepts for down select decisions. These ground tests can significantly reduce performance risks going into full scale proof of principal flight test programs. The ATTDP effort will utilize the USG's hypervelocity light gas gun facilities and measurement sensors and the experience base of the UAH range and other personnel to perform experiments and analyses for a broad class of test programs and other work specified at a later time.