Maritime Atmospheric State (MASt) LIDAR

Michigan Aerospace Corporation (MAC) is pleased to provide this proposal to address the sensor needs identified in the Navy topic N161-054: Maritime Electromagnetic Maneuver Warfare (EMW) Environmental Sensing. Atmospheric turbulence can distort the measurements of electro-magnetic (EM) and Electro-Optic (EO) sensors. The Surface Navy has interest in predicting EM and EO propagation from surface ships to support the prediction of radar, electronic warfare, laser, and communications systems performance. Other atmospheric parameters, such as winds, density, visibility, icing, and turbulence are needed for marine aviation up to 5 km. MAC proposes a Direct Detection Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system coupled with an ultraviolet (UV) Raman channel to provide simultaneous wind speed/direction, density, temperature, extinction, cloud height, water vapor/ice mass fractions, dew point and optical turbulence. This proven technology will provide real-time, 3-dimensional, altitude ranged environmental state information and has the capability to scan from the sea surface up to 5km of altitude. This Phase I effort will provide the necessary design and modeling basis for a Phase II demonstration.