CONTROLLED RANGE NETWORK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP03-00121R000100010004-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 20
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 18, 2012
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: December 1, 1970
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/18: CIA-RDP03-00121 R000100010004-1
CONFIDENTIAL
FINAL. REPORT
CON'-FR L R RANGE NETWORK
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CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTI
CONFIDENTIAL
FR-70-4
70-DC-176-,3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/18: CIA-RDP03-00121 R000100010004-1
FINAL RE PORT
(U) CONTROLLED RANGE NETWORK
JFE yL
December 1970
GROUP3
DOWNGRADED AT 12 YEAR INTERVALS;
NOT AUTOMATICALLY DECLASSIFIED
This document contains information affecting the National
Defense of the ,United States within the mooning of the
Espionage Lows, Title 18, U. S. C., Sections 793 and 794.
Its transmission or the revelation of its contents in any
manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited bye low.
Prepared For
Directorate of Reconnaissance Engineering
Deputy For Engineering
Aeronautical Systems Division
Air Force.Systems Conlirnand
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
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FOREWORD
This report describes services provided by
the requirements of
ment of work.
in compliance with
as specified in its accompanying state-
The contract began on 1 October 1969 and extended through 30 September 1970.
Directorate of Reconnaissance Engineering (ASD/
ENRDP), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio was the Air Force Program Manager
and
was his alternate.
A number of the technical staff of
provided services on this con-
tract. Principal personnel engaged in this?proj.ect included
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and the author.
The manuscript of this report was submitted by the author for initial review on
19 October 1970. It is identified by the contractor's file number FR-70-4.
This final report has been reviewed and is approved.
Project Manager
Directorate of Reconnaissance Engineering
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UNCLASSIFIED ABSTRACT
This report summarizes activity related to the operation of. the Controlled Range
Network during the period of 1 October 1969 to 30 September 1970. This final report
presents 'a resume of services provided for the United States, Air Force by
in response'to the requirements of
The proce- 25X1
dures used to provide targettservice, preparation of related publications, scope of Kbol-
lateral services, and certain related research efforts are described.
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CONTENTS
Section _ Title Page
I INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I
IT TECHNICAL DISCUSSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
A. General . . . . . . . . 2
B. Field Oper,,itions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
C. Collateral Services ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . c3
1. Handbooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 6
2. Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3. Special Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
4. Special Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
5. Disposable Targets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
6. Mobile Multisensor Units ... . . . . . . . . . . . 7
III OPERATIONS ANALYSIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
I V CONCLUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
V RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
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SECTION I
Advances in reconnaissance technology are greatly dependent upon the capability
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to measure accurately the performance of individual, sensors and sensor systems.
Extensive laboratory tests are performed on these reconnaissance components and
sensor systems; however, the most realistic evaluation is achieved during actual
flight testing under operational conditions;
INTRODUCTION
This method of evaluation requires accurate mensuration standards and instru-
mentation to support system evaluation. It is also highly desirable to standardize the
analysis techniques and mensuration standards throughout the reconnaissance commu-
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ty. This provides not only for repeatability of testing conditions, but also for com-
parison of various systems.
A number of ground evaluation standards, together with their f elated analysis tech-
niques,have been designed for the purpose of providing a basic capability to support the
development and evaluation of photographic,
This array of ground .targets and associated instrumentation capability, together
with the experienced- technical personnel to operate them effectively, comprise the Con-
tro`tled Range.etwork (CORN).
The resources of the Controlled Range Network are available on a nationwide
basis to members of the reconnaissance community. Any customer, through a sim-
plified communication channel, can be provided with an array of evaluation standards
and meaningful' photometric and atmospheric instrumentation data with which to analyze
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the overall performance of a system.
This final report presents a summary of CORN activity provided for the United
. . States Air Force by I (during the contract period.
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UNCLASSIFIED
SECTION II
A. GENERAL
TECHNICAL DISCUSSION
The Controlled Range Network is operated by from its principal
facility at Personnel in the F____~ffice manage all aspects of the op-
eration of the network and provide a variety of supporting services.
The principal area of endeavor is targeting and instrumentation service. This is
provided by one crew based in_and by eight other field crews located across the
nation.
Supporting services include certain research efforts, material procurement for
special projects, an overall quality control program, maintenance of a multisensor
test capability, and publication of handbooks.
B. FIELD OPERATIONS
Targeting service is provided on a nationwide basis by nine target crews: Each
crew is provided with a specified group of targets and supporting instrumentation so
that, when required, a series of nine similar target groupings can be displayed. In-
strumentation can be provided concurrently at fixed sites, as required. When the
scope of operations requires' it, a second crew equipped with the standard set of tar-
gets and instrumentation can be made available from
The target set, ins trumentation,and crew are transported from the operating base
to the display site by a heavy-duty truck which is especially configured to accommodate
both crew and equipment. Communications from to each operating base are by
teletype.
The nine operating bases are located at cities as shown in Figure 1. When a tar-
get display is required, the crew nearest the requested site is directed to display the
targets.
During the past year, one field crew was relocated from
Crew performance atF---]had become unacceptable in terms of quality.
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~? Color dog Springs
Springfield y
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Figure 1. Target Crew Locations
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Historically, the pattern of requested display locations changes and future distri-
biition may not be entirely predictable. Operating experience indicates that these lo-
cations are satisfactory, considering both the geographical distribution and the sequence
of displays, in given CORN operations. The expense incurred in the selection and train-
ing of new CORN target crews, as well as a reduction in initial proficiency during the
transition -period, is significant. Thus, in the interest of overall economy, relocation
of the field crew is done only for most compelling, reasons.
Such a magnitude of field operations requires a proportional amount of supporting
serxices by the
To assure that the basic set of data is most meaningful, the targets and associated
instrumentation employed in the field must be maintained at a uniform level of quality.
Spectral characteristics of representative samples of each reflectance area of each
target are measured bimonthly. Samples are measured on a single-beam recording
spectrophotometer at
Each, 70 mm Hasselblad camera is recalled from the field and recalibrated-at
intervals of 180 days. This calibration process is accomplished by
technicians using both in-plant test equipment and certain specialized items of calibra-
tion equipment in the Avionics Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
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Energy-measurement equipment (such as radiometers, light meters, and bright-
ness meters) is calibrated at intervals of 45 to. 90 days.
If any instrumentation component malfunctions in the field, it is immediately re-
called to, for repair and recalibration; it is replaced with a similar unit which
has been recently certified.
In addition to these mechanical functions, there `are other aspects of the operation
in which quality is constantly monitored. Emphasis is placed on quality of target d?.s-
plays; field operations, and related operational procedures in field exercises.
Technicians from who are thoroughly experienced in every
aspect of the field operation, make unannounced inspections at a number of target
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display sites during field operations. This helps to assure that the tTirgets are dis-
played correctly and that the procedures for data collection used by the field crew
are correct.
(U) Continued emphasis on quality during the past year has produced the expected
improvement in overall operational effectiveness. Greater demand fo field-cre,~-
proficiency has, in turn,resulted in a general growth of quality in target displays 1;-16
the raw data collected during operations.
(C) Quality of Hasselblad edge-target photography is cited as a specific example, (. ?
trast data derived from this photography correlated extremely well with similar data,
derived from spectrophotometric measurements of target specimens made under
ratory conditions. Because of this correlation and for reasons of economy and va ni