INFRARED AND RADAR SUPPRESSIVE COATINGS

THERE IS A NEED FOR A TECHNOLOGY BASE THAT WILL PERMIT THE SUPPRESSION OF INFRARED SIGNATURES CONTRIBUTING TO AIRCRAFT DETECTION OR MISSILE GUIDANCE AGAINST AIRCRAFT. MATERIALS AND COATINGS WITH REDUCED EMISSIVITY OR WHICH CAN DEFLECT AIRCRAFT RADIANCE ARE DESIRED. IN VIEW OF THIS, THE PRESENT PROPOSAL OUTLINES A PROGRAM TO DEVELOP SOLUBLE POLYMERS THAT POSSESS BROADBAND RADAR AND THERMAL INFRARED SUPPRESSIVE PROPERTIES. THESE POLYMERS WILL BE FORMULATED AS COATINGS AND THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF PHASE I IS TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF THE CONCEPT, AND TO DEVELOP A MODEL TO PREDICT THE RADAR REFLECTIVITY OF A COATED OBJECT WITH THE CANDIDATE COATINGS. THE TECHNICAL APPROACH, IF SUCCESSFUL, SHOULD PERMIT THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFRARED CONTROL THAT WILL SYNERGISTICALLY SUPPORT BOTH RADAR AND OPTICAL SIGNATURE CONTROL.