Tracking Through Laser-Induced Clutter for Air to Ground Directed Energy Systems

The agility and speed with which directed energy can be retargeted and delivered to the target makes a laser weapon highly desirable in tactical battlefield environments. A directed energy system can effectively damage and possibly destroy relatively softtargets on the ground. In order to accurately point a high-energy laser (HEL) beam at the target, the directed energy system must be able to acquire and track target of interest in highly cluttered environments, under different weather, smoke, andcamouflage conditions and in the presence of turbulence. To meet this requirement, we propose to work with the USAF to integrate and test a multi-spectral tracking system, which includes a passive MWIR sensor and a range-gated laser tracker. We proposeto develop novel algorithms for tracking ground target in clutter through turbulence and thermal blooming, as well as algorithms for target identification. We propose to test the developed algorithms, as well as evaluate tracker performance and the impactof thermal blooming on a HEL beam and optical tracker by using a wave-optics code. Field tests will be performed at North Oscura Peak facility to prove that the multi-spectral tracker built at the AFRL and the developed algorithms can operate in real timeenvironments.