Silicon-Based Visible/Near-Infrared Affordable Missile Warning

A collaborative effort between the Eddy Company and The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) is proposed to develop an affordable silicon-based visible to near infrared missile warning sensor. This sensor whould unltimately bepart of an Infrared Counter-Measure (IRCM) system designed to protect Naval aircraft from anti-aircraft missiles.In this effort we will complete a feasibility study to address the technologies, capabilities, and design for a visible-near infrared (VNIR) missile warning system. The critical issue regarding the use of VNIR sensors for a missile warning system is toreject the solar and manmade visible background while at the same time sensing light from the missile plume. We will fabricate a prototype filter, that through a research and development effort be customized for a missile warning sensor application.The significance of our approach is ability to provide missile warning both during the day or night with extremely low false alarm rates using low cost visible sensing technology. As a deliverable product we will provide a feasibility study anddevelopment plan that describes the requirements, system design, performance specifications, manufacturing technologies, and a plan to fabricate a working sensor. Production of missile warning system for DOD/civilian aircraft.