High-Fidelity Multi-Spectral Targets for Gunnery Training

There is an urgent Army need for 2-D & 2½-D gunnery targets that produce high-fidelity thermal infrared images while remaining lightweight, low-cost and able to endure multiple hits without replacement. Falcon Systems Engineering Corporation has a solution in which the thermal features are an intrinsic, high-resolution, redundant, and robust part of the target. A modular, segmented target and multiple channels of thermal brightness control provide flexible signature matching that accounts for environmental interactions and vehicle operations scenarios. Economical, mass production polymer thermoforming processes will be used to meet the cost and weight objectives. 2-D and 2½-D scaled-down prototypes of the “Technical” vehicle (pick-up truck with bed-mounted gun and gunner) target will be produced early on. Prototype power and control electronics will be built. Best manufacturing practices will be established, followed by fabrication and field testing of full-scale prototype sections of the Technical vehicle target. The prototypes will be used to develop, test, demonstrate and validate the materials, manufacturing processes and designs necessary for a commercially successful product. Commercialization will result in the availability of a family of high-fidelity infrared-enhanced gunnery targets, including tanks and other larger vehicle targets, for Army and other agency use.