Radiation Hard Interceptor Components Test Methods for Missile Defense

This proposed Phase II program will build on the successful partial rehabilitation of the Nuclear Infrared Clutter Simulator (NICS) chamber in Phase I and continue that work to develop a state-of-the-art testbed to support radiation hardness testing for MDA-sponsored infrared sensor programs. RAD will complete the task of restoring NICS to full operational capability, completing several repair/replacement tasks identified during the Phase I assessment. The principal objective of the Phase II program will be to demonstrate the capability of the restored NICS chamber for sensor testing by conducting a demonstration test for a two-color infrared focal plane in gamma radiation environments. In the discussion below, we present a thorough description of that capability objective. RAD’s assessment of the NODDS technology during the Phase I effort has indicated a clear need to upgrade the NICS chamber to more modern infrared scene projection systems, specifically to the Optimized Array for Space-background IR Simulation (OASIS) technology. In order to ensure that the OASIS IRSP technology can be used successfully in NICS for radiation test programs, we are proposing to include a radiation effects test on a Grade B OASIS array, to be furnished to the program as GFE.