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

Severe 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 need for improved sensor systems that perform well in degraded visibility environmental conditions Optonicus proposes to develop a fiber-array illuminator multi-sensor all weather tracker (FAST) which includes an active (gated array) imaging system combined with a dual band/dual color passive infrared imager. The gated imaging system will use a fiber-array laser beam projector for incoherent illumination of a target to reduce speckle effects and increase tracking performance. A passive dual band/color infrared camera is part of the system and will provide images in two spectral ranges within the MWIR/LWIR wavebands with total temporal and spatial correlation. Image processing algorithms will be developed that make use of the advanced features of these passive cameras. The FAST system will work in tandem with a conventional radar system and provide identification and fine tracking of targets to the aimpoint a HEL weapons system.