A Fiber-Array Illuminator Multi-Sensor All Weather Precision Tracker (FAST) For HEL Weapon Systems In Degraded Visibility Battlefield Environments

Extreme weather conditions with degraded visibility severely reduce the performance of existing imaging technologies to detect rockets, artillery, and mortars (RAM) on a battlefield. To meet the Army need for improved sensor systems that perform well in such conditions Optonicus has developed a fiber-array illuminator multi-sensor all-weather tracker (FAST) system that includes a gated imaging system combined with a fiber-array laser beam projector for incoherent illumination of a target to reduce speckle effects and increase tracking performance. A passive dual-band and/or dual-color infrared camera is part of the system design that provides images in two spectral ranges. Image processing algorithms will be developed that make use of the advanced features of these passive cameras. The FAST Phase II system will work in tandem with a conventional radar system and provide identification and fine tracking to HEL weapons systems.