Novel Airborne Multispectral Imaging System for Small Boat Detection

The assets of the US Navy are under constant threat of attack from small fast moving boats, such as the Fast Attack Craft (FAC) and the Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC). These craft may be operated by forces from recognized adversaries such as Iran or North Korea, by “Rogue States” or by violent non-state actors whose ideology encourages violence against US interests. To counter this threat, the US Navy is developing new tactics and technologies to reduce the threat from FACs in littoral waters. Rapidly detecting, identifying, and tracking small fast attack craft using multispectral electro-optical imaging is a key force multiplier for the US Navy. The proposed high speed multispectral imager uses the polarization of the reflected light to reduce the background signal and to provide additional information on targets in the area of interest. The multispectral polarization imaging system (MPIS) will be compact and light enough to be used in both fixed-wing and rotary-wing naval aircraft.