HigherEchelon applies its engineering expertise to solve critical problems and address a wide range of threats to our national security.
THAAD Evaluation Center
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Evaluation Center (TEC) is home to laboratories that provide high-fidelity simulations to THAAD batteries for realistic unit training and to ensure interoperability with all systems within the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) architecture. These simulations enable objective assessments of the effectiveness of THAAD software products and processes. HigherEchelon’s engineers support the TEC by providing program management assistance, logistics support, procurement, and inventory control support. Additionally, HE provides independent verification and validation (IV&V) of THAAD software products to ensure their effectiveness and their interoperability with all other systems within the BMDS ecosystem.
Sensors Test Analysis Requirements and Simulation (STARS) Lab
Our software engineers at the Sensor, Test, Analysis, Requirements, & Simulation (STARS) Lab support the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) by analyzing and improving the performance various radar systems, including the Army Navy/Transportable Surveillance Radar Series 2 (AN/TPY2), Sea Based X-Band Radar (SBX), Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR), Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR), Cobra Dane (CD), and Open Systems Architecture Signal Injector (OSI). HigherEchelon provides support in all phases of the software development cycle for these systems, including software requirements development, design, coding, and testing.
Missile Defense Agency – Indicium
HigherEchelon’s engineers support the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) by providing software and support services to simulated, ground, and flight missile tests held around the globe. HigherEchelon provides software support to the Network, Systems Integration and Test Environment (NSITE), including the passive collection of interoperability data, which provides a near-real time combined interoperability picture of air, ground, and space track data, engagements, and intercepts. Our engineers also provide cyber monitoring of pre-defined networks in order to ensure that only known reporters are on the network.
The test support services our engineers provide to MDA include the planning, design, execution, and management of test programs based on engineering analysis of developmental and operational test requirements, including the development and publication of Integrated Master Test Plans and Test CONOPS. They also provide onsite operator support, performing independent data collection and situational awareness monitoring for Mission Execution Teams.
Patriot Missile
The MIM-104 Patriot missile system is a combat-proven Surface to Air Missile (SAM) system that uses high-performance radar and advanced interceptors to provide defenses against enemy missiles and aircraft in the Lower Tier Airspace. The Patriot missile system is in use by the United States and 16 of its allies, making it one of the most deployed SAM systems in the world. It is expected to remain fielded until at least 2040. HigherEchelon’s talented engineers support this mission-critical system by providing software support to the Patriot Tactical Planner Workstation (TPW), which consists of the Battle Space Designer (BSD) and the Common Data Link Interface Module (CDLIM).
HigherEchelon provides software development and support to the Battle Space Designer (BSD), which is used by Patriot operators for tactical planning and air defense command and control (C2). The BSD provides an automated solution for defense design planning, weapon system initialization, and situational awareness monitoring. Automated decision support tools enable commanders to quickly formulate effective air defense plans by accounting for variables during combat preparation.
HigherEchelon also supports the Patriot Common Data Link Interface Module (CDLIM), which ensures interoperability amongst multiple weapon and sensor platforms by rapidly processing data that is received and transmitted over various link protocols, including Link 16, Satellite TADIL-J, JREAP, and SIMPLE. CDLIM established media-independent data links in support of force and engagement operations, allowing host tactical platforms to interface effectively. It enables tactical data transmission over digital media and networks that may not have been originally designed for tactical data exchange. HigherEchelon’s support of the CDLIM ensures that our weapon systems and sensors are able to seamlessly communicate with each other and our allies on the battlefield, maintaining competitive overmatch against our adversaries.
AH-64 Apache Helicopter
The AH-64 Apache attack helicopter is one of the most iconic, and effective, air platforms employed by the United States. HigherEchelon ensures the continued functionality of the Apache by providing comprehensive support for the platform’s avionics software. The avionics software manages the operations of the air platform, including communications, navigation, weapons systems, countermeasures, and the Pilot Vehicle Interface. HigherEchelon’s engineers are deeply involved in every step of the software development cycle, including the generation of requirements, review of the SOW, design reviews, and systems engineering.
Additionally, HigherEchelon’s software engineers replicated the AH-64’s OEM software test environment. This test environment performs exhaustive tests of software before it is deployed onto a live aircraft for testing, ensuring that the software is compliant with all requirements and does not pose a threat to the pilot or aircraft.
UAS Joint System Integration Lab (JSIL)
The Joint System Integration Lab is responsible for further developing, refining, evaluating, and integrating Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) technologies, platforms, and payloads with the potential of improving the Warfighting Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, and Intelligence (C5I) capabilities of ISR and weapons systems. The JSIL Branch conducts development, experimentation, integration and testing of systems, capabilities, and architectures beyond the boundaries of the typical UAS system. HigherEchelon supports JSIL through help desk support for and comprehensive software testing of the Universal Ground Control Station (UGCS), the Mobile Data and Retrieval – Tactical (MDAR-T), and other systems. HigherEchelon engineers ensure that these software packages are ready to be integrated with other UAS platforms.