Original Date: 08/08/1994
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

CSTA maintains three facilities that enable it to conduct dynamic live fire simulations, static live fire simulations, and dynamic non-firing simulations, mostly in large caliber direct fire weapons systems. These three ranges Trench Warfare I (TWI), Trench Warfare II (TWII), and the Moving Target Simulator (MTS) allow CSTA to determine the firing accuracy of a weapon system in a fraction of the time and at a substantially reduced cost of just a few years ago. This capability, coupled with the near real-time availability of the firing data, make these fire control testing ranges vitally important. Each range maintains state-of-the-art instrumentation, data acquisition, and data transmission capabilities. The combination of these three major technological areas with complementary capabilities give CSTA a unique and cost effective test facility.

At TWII, a large caliber direct fire weapon platform such as a tank or mobile gun is instrumented with state-of-the-art video equipment and a host of other instrumentation to measure parameters such as gun line-of-sight, reticle position, sight field of view, and digital fire control computer inputs and outputs. Range instrumentation consists of high speed digital cameras for impact scoring, a digital doppler radar for trajectory measurements, and numerous survey monuments out to a 4,000 meter target range. All signals are monitored real-time from a remote control station. Once a round is fired, the integrated test site instrumentation software automatically calculates the theoretical versus the actual trajectory of the bullet. This is accomplished on site, in near real-time, to allow test engineers to analyze the event prior to firing the next round. This effort saves valuable range time, ammunition, and money. Once a firing platform is characterized in the static mode, it then goes to the MTS.

Data from TWII is automatically available for use at the MTS, thereby enabling test engineers conduct dynamic non-firing simulations. The MTS is a 11 meter diameter, climate-controlled air-supported dome which contains a laser protected target. This laser projects a simulated target on the inside of the dome for the test vehicle to track. The test vehicle is fully instrumented to conduct simulated firings against moving targets. This facility compiles the dynamic data necessary for the vehicle to move to the dynamic live fire simulation at TWI. All data is calculated in near real-time and available for use at the other two ranges.

The firing platform is finally tested in the dynamic mode at TWI. This facility provides for fully instrumented moving tank and moving target engagements out to a range of 2,400 meters. As in TWII, all events can be recorded using state-of-the-art instrumentation for the complete evaluation of the fire control system.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.