LADAR Guided Smart Submunitions

Systems & Processes Engineering Corporation (SPEC) proposes a LADAR seeker for guided smart submunitions. The LADAR is an extension of SPEC LADAR family, operating at 1550nm, making use of communications fiber optic components, minimizing cost, development time and size. The receiver utilizes SPEC’s pipeline processing LADAR receiver, capturing waveforms of the first three objects in range per pixel, with range accuracy to 3mm. The LADAR allows all weather operation with 5km range in all but heavy thunderstorm (4km) and fog (twice the visual range). The LADAR architecture features a fiber laser and optically amplified receiver achieving 6/1 s/n on single photon detects. A dual Fresnel style prism director allows large area search, small area scan or FOR tracking modes. The total LADAR package is 3.5 inches diameter by 8 inches long, with power under 100 watts, dominated by laser pump power. LADAR image processing will be handled by HyperX matrix processor, a fabric of 100 processors on a chip, clock by clock reconfigurable, having power per flop 1/10 competitive units. The LADAR will be capable of classifying, guiding the round to the target, and discrimination of targets. Last pixel processing allows locating targets under heavy foliage and camouflage nets. BENEFIT: The use of an imaging LADAR for guided smart munitions allows good weather performance, excellent discrimination and tracking accuracy and the ability to defeat objects hidden under heavy foliage or camouflage nets. The same LADAR is ideally suited for helicopter brown out viewing and UAV collision avoidance applications.