Adaptive Spectral Imager for the Next Generation EKV

Multispectral (ten or more spectral bands) imagers are required to assist in the mid-course discrimination function of the Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) by providing infrared spectral signatures and temperature measurements of objects within the threat cloud. Spectral Sciences Incorporated (SSI) proposes to develop a novel adaptive spectral imager that delivers both high speed IR image data for tracking and detailed spectra for discriminating between targets and decoys. The spectral resolution could be adjusted during the course of a single mission to provide anything from panchromatic images (one band) to hyperspectral imagery with up to 100 bands. The sensor would provide full image data at rates limited only by the FPA readout. With future high-speed readouts, it would provide ten-twenty band multispectral images at data rates greater than 1 kHz. The novel spectral filtering concept provides a higher optical throughput than competing, Fabry-Perot and acousto-optic technology. It has no macro-scale moving parts and can be built in a robust, small, volume, and low-mass package. Phase I will demonstrate the feasibility of the spectral filtering approach and develop a conceptual design for a Phase II prototype operating in the LWIR, MWIR, or VLWIR .