Aerodynamic Infrared Dome

Infrared domes currently have a hemispheric shape because this shape introduces minimal optical distortion and is easy to fabricate. Future high-speed missiles require aerodynamic infrared dome shapes that reduce drag and have greater ability to withstand aerothermal heating. Several Navy SBIR topics have addressed fundamental issues of fabricating a subscale ogive shape from infrared-transparent polycrystalline alumina and developing methods to grind and polish the outer and inner surfaces to the intended shape. To this point, aerodynamic domes meeting optical tolerances have not been produced. The Navy desires to advance the technology and lower the cost for making ogive infrared domes by expanding the candidate midwave infrared materials to include ALON and spinel and by investigating alternate grinding and polishing approaches. Surmet proposes herein to leverage work performed under internal funding as well as on previous SBIR contracts to address these issues. Specifically, under the Phase I contract Surmet proposes to 1) demonstrate the ability to apply green machining techniques to form near-net shape ALON (and in phase II, spinel) ogive dome blanks and 2) identify, perform initial demonstrations, and downselect novel optical finishing techniques for final finishing of ogive domes using the various technical capabilities of Surmet Corporation.