Analysis of wind measurement techniques and atmospheric stability modeling for the Catapult Launched Fuel-Air Explosive Land Mine Countermeasure System

This thesis reveals that the current CATFAE wind sensor falls short of delivering the necessary wind information for successful CATFAE operation. Several potential difficulties are addressed, such as misleading local variations in the wind and inability of the sensor to see decoupled wind shear aloft. Several alternative wind sensing systems are reviewed for applicability to CATFAE, and such systems as the Laser True Airspeed System (LATAS), the Lasergage Laser Rangefinder, and a mm-wave balloon-borne transponder system are recommended as viable alternatives. This thesis also presents an empirically based stable atmosphere wind model to enhance the predictive capabilities of the CATFAE System Effectiveness Model (SEM). The model is presented in the form of an interpolative Table Look-up scheme which utilizes extensive wind measurement data reported in the literature. The computer subroutines are given in the appendices.