Advanced Passive and Active Sensors for Discrimination Seekers

Effective future ballistic missile defense systems will be forced to discriminate between targets and decoys. To meet this requirement, ballistic missile interceptors must contain sensors which have imaging capability. SA Photonics is proposing a program to develop a pumped laser optical source for LIDAR-RADAR imaging applications specifically targeted for ballistic missile applications. The SA Photonics Advanced Fiber Laser Optical Source (AFLOS) combines a unique set of performance capabilities that enables significant benefits for future generations of ballistic missile seekers. These benefits include; high peak power, precise pulse characteristics, waveform agility, and a compact size. The SA Photonics AFLOS combines several innovative technologies which include a fiber-laser based approach utilizing advanced pumping techniques and external optical modulation. These technologies combined will produce a system which reduces power consumption by over 5X compared to conventional pulsed sources, provide excellent optical carrier characteristics including narrow line width and low phase noise, and provides excellent optical pulse characteristics and waveform agility. The entire assembly will be installed in a very compact enclosure utilizing advanced thermal dissipation materials and techniques along with micro-electronic and optics packaging.