High Speed, Asynchronous, Next Generation SAL Seeker

ABSTRACT:Next generation semi active laser (SAL) seeker systems will be called upon to operate in more challenging environments with more challenging targets. Weapons will need the flexibility to operate in varied environments that include rural, urban, and barren solar loaded terrain. A single weapon will have configurable explosive yields to minimize collateral damage while ensuring first pass success. To enable these new weapons, a more advanced and flexible SAL system is needed. The system should enable precise aimpoint selection against stationary and moving targets, it should be compatible with fielded 1064 nm solid state laser designators, and with future generation eye safe wavelength, diode laser based, 1550 nm coded waveform designators. It should be able to guide weapons that are dropped from miles away or work with rocket propelled grenades that are fired from just 500 meters away. We propose to develop a specialized low cost seeker sensor that has both a wide field of view, positional accuracy, and the ability to lock onto codes. BENEFIT:At the end of a successful program, Attollo will deliver a prototype a Dual-Band and Dual-Mode SAL seeker solution that will spot, discriminate, track, and provide full aiming guidance information to laser guided munitions. The wide field of view, array solution will provide substantially more information than todays seekers, and it will be compatible with both todays 1064 nm laser designator, but also next generation eye-safe (15xx nm) high bandwidth laser designators. This capability will ease the transition from high-power Class IV laser designation to lower power eye-safe laser designation, while maintaining backward compatibility. These systems will enable a changeover in seeker technology over time. New munitions can be outfitted with our seeker solution and they can be guided with either the eye-safe designator or standard 1064 nm laser designators. In addition, the seeker enables a new category of short range (< 3 km) small caliber munitions which require a higher bandwidth designator for course corrections. Our 10kHz eye-safe designator provides timely feedback for the munition. With these advancements, the warfighter can maximize lethality while minimizing collateral damage. In addition, by moving to eye-safe designators, combination rangefinder/designators will decrease in cost enabling their wider deployment.