Threat Assets for T&E (TATE) Workshop
A Systems-of-Systems Threat Engineering Solution Approach
July 15-18, 2025
West Virginia University
- Background
- Threat assets for T&E (TATE) Workshop
- Innovative Strategic Approach
- Attendee Learning Objectives
- Agenda
- Prerequisites
- Location and Networking
- Sponsors and Participating Organizations
Note: The agenda and workshop information will be updated periodically as more details are finalized.
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Background
Traditionally, to develop and evolve our warfighting capabilities to counter evolving and advanced threat systems, we test and evaluate performance measures during research and development cycles using Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E), and we evaluate their effectiveness and survivability before full rate production in Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E). We have traditionally procured live fire test assets to represent a class of threat systems and employed modeling and simulation assets independently to also represent some threat capabilities. These assets are employed in Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E) to ensure our evolving and developing technologies and systems are on the right path to satisfy our performance objectives while the goal of Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E), according to the Operational Test Authority (OTA), is to determine “ operational effectiveness, suitability and survivability in a realistic threat environment . ”
The questions that need to be asked are:
- How do we test and evaluate systems being developed against new and evolving threat systems and technologies? and...
- How do we best train our warfighters to defeat them in a timely and affordable manner?
Executing test and evaluation (T&E) activities is a very challenging and costly engineering endeavor for the DoD. To maintain a decisive edge against adversaries rapidly deploying advanced technologies—including those powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML)—the DoD must accelerate and streamline how we design, develop, and test our systems. In particular, how we represent threats for T&E must evolve with the evolving technologies. At the strategic level, the System of Systems Threat Engineering Workshop will provide a strategic framework to produce relevant threat representation assets in a timely, comprehensive, and affordable manner for use across the broader DoD T&E community and identify and help the attendees better understand the evolving technologies and technical challenges. Our Workshop strategy and technical material also supports delivering improved warfighting performance assessments and helps educate warfighters by delivering effective training tools.
Threat assets for T&E (TATE) Workshop
The goals of this workshop are to:
- Introduce the T&E threat representation development strategy (Strategic asset approach)
- Provide a foundational, introductory education on advanced technologies of strategic importance to threat development for T&E and ...
- Foster networking and collaboration opportunities with experts across the DoD and industry to accelerate development of effective T&E solutions.
Day one focuses on threat asset technical strategy for T&E. On days two and three the workshop emphasizes a balanced approach developing various synergistic assets—such as test targets, modeling and simulation (M&S) products, simulators, and stimulators—to fulfill the end-to-end T&E needs of DoD systems under test. One key attribute is the rapid integration of evolving threat technologies.
Over four days, the workshop will feature technical briefings, hands-on lab demonstrations with interactive sessions to equip attendees with practical insights, tools, and connections.
Innovative Strategic Approach
Hosted in a university environment at West Virginia University (WVU), this workshop leverages cutting-edge research, processes, and capabilities while teaching the next generation of engineers and scientists the foundations of Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) T&E and threat engineering. Partnering with small businesses, the approach not only transitions technology into the broader test and evaluation workforce but also cultivates advanced degree graduates (Master’s and PhD) who possess expert-level knowledge of threat asset design strategies, relevant technologies, and threat engineering methods. Once in the workforce, these graduates can guide T&E engineering decision-makers and resource managers in acquiring near- and far-term threat-representative resources—both physical and M&S—in a fiscally responsible manner.
Attendee Learning Objectives
Day 1: Threat Engineering T&E Asset Development Strategy
- Learn a novel efficient and effective approach to satisfy future comprehensive DoD T&E threat-representative assets strategy using threat engineering techniques.
- Explore the application of threat engineering to T&E asset development, including a dedicated session on radar cross section (RCS) characterization and requirements.
- Learn how to construct complex threat flight dynamics models affordably and implement them using a test-bed simulation architecture approach.
- Evaluate advanced engineering techniques for generalized modeling of threat missile damage states and assessing range-dependent lethality.
Day 2 Option 1– Electromagnetic Warfare
- Examine the design of RF seeker systems and advanced seeker technologies, including waveforms likely to be encountered.
- Review AI/ML-based radar waveform development and non-cooperative detection and classification methods.
- Understand the use of digital RF memories (DRFMs) within an adversarial C4ISR campaign and the testing of AI/ML-driven capabilities in both adversarial and friendly RF systems.
- Appreciate the importance of counter-DRFM methods and compare results of different techniques.
Day 3 - AI/ML using Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs)
- Learn the fundamentals of AI/ML and PINNs as applied to engineering practices
- Understand how different engineering analysis techniques can support AI/ML based 6DoF missile design and performance evaluations, including scaled flight testing, CFD/6DoF, CFD and analytical approaches.
- Explore the use of AI/ML, including Physics Informed Neural Networks (PINNs), in both threat engineering and integrated missile defense systems M&S
Day 4 - Interactive Matlab/Simulink Laboratory Sessions
- Introductory practical exercises in a computer lab setting using MATLAB/Simulink.
- Work through complex 6DoF air defense system-missile engagement with AT3MSTB
- Understand a missile seeker model in SIMULINK and evaluate its performance in a missile–ASCM decoy engagement.
- Use time-frequency and bi-frequency neural network constructs for detection and classification of intercepted threat waveforms.
- Execute a comparison test evaluating adversarial C4ISR against a multifunction RF sensor system.
Agenda
Day 1.
- Opening Remarks - Dr. Raymond O’Toole, Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, Acting (Invited)
- XXXX To Be Announced
- Dr. Pedro J. Mago, Dean West Virginia University, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
- Dr. Jason Gross, West Virginia University, Chair Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering
Session Topics
Day 1. Threat Engineering and Representation Strategy
- Session 1: Threat Engineering Representation Strategy to Support T&E
- Session 2: RCS Threat Engineering T&E Acceptability Criteria
- Session 3: Damaged States Threat Engineering Strategy to Support T&E
- Session 4: Advanced Test Target and Threat Modeling and Simulation Test Bed
Day 2. Option 1: Electromagnetic Warfare – Threat Engineering
- Session 1: Seeker engineering using cognitive radar, MIMO, Frequency diverse and low probability of intercept (LPI) radar
- Session 2: Detection and classification of LPI Signals
- Session 3: Fundamentals of C4ISR and Their Test and Evaluation
- Session 4: Counter-Digital RF Memory
Day 3. AI/ML using Physics Informed Neural Network (PINN) Research and Design
- Session 1: Fundamentals of AI/ML and PINN
- Session 2: Scaled Flight Testing to Support PINN & Design
- Session 3: CFD-6DoF Simulations & Analytical Approaches to Support PINN & Design
- Session 4: PINN Applied to flight test data representation
Day 4. Interactive Laboratory Exercises on Workshop Topics
- Session 1: Introduction to Matlab/Simulink in WVU Computer Laboratory Environment
- Session 2: Computer lab activities on electromagnetic warfare Topics (Day 2)
- Session 3: Computer lab activities Using AT3MSTB (Day 1)
- Session 4: Computer Lab activities on Air Defense Systems Evaluation applications (Day 1)
Prerequisites
The audience should have a technical background in engineering or applied physics associated with one or more of the following areas: weapons, missiles, electromagnetic systems and techniques, machine learning techniques and engagement level modeling and simulation of complex weapon systems.
Location and Networking
This four-day workshop will be held on the engineering campus of West Virginia University. Specialized VIP tours and general participant tours of campus facilities will be available. Various scheduled breaks, receptions, and events throughout the workshop are designed to facilitate collaboration and foster professional connections with attendees, instructors, and leading experts from across the DoD and industry.