Ole Miss hosts missile defense system demo

UNIVERSITY, Miss. - University of Mississippi research is making the U.S. Army's missile defense radar systems smaller, lighter and more fuel-efficient." Campus engineers demonstrated results of that research Aug. 23 on the Oxford campus. "Making the radar smaller, lighter and easier to transport is very important," said Dr. Charles Smith, UM's principal investigator and professor emeritus of electrical engineering. "It's especially important now that we are in a war against terrorism - to be able to move them to the battle field quicker." The demonstration focused on six technology areas - fuel cell power, antenna design and capabilities, antenna range, heat pipe applications, antenna signal enhancement and pultrusion composite fabrication, a fiberglass-based material stronger than steel. Registration and informal discussions began at 9:30 a.m. in the Lyceum Board Room with guided demonstrations beginning at 11 a.m. in Carrier Hall and the Engineering Science Building (see accompanying pictures). "The demonstration showed how the radar system can be reduced in mass, volume and cost," Smith said. "All six areas work to enhance the system's capability, reliability, maintainability and manufacturability." Related research is being done at Mississippi State University and Auburn University. The UM team has focused on reducing the size of the mobile units' transmitters and receivers, as well as novel ways to manage temperature and increase efficiency of radio frequency transmission. MSU's research is on electric power distribution and the use of hybrid electric, turboelectric and other generators. Auburn is examining batteries, fuel cells and related power sources. The $4 million project also involves U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Technical Center in Huntsville, Ala., which is managing military applications and requirements. "We hope to change the way these radar systems are built," Smith said. "By integrating radar and power technologies, we're shooting for 80 percent reduction in fuel requirements, 50 percent reduction in weight and 50 percent reduction in size." Funding comes from Congress through the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command.