EYESAFE LASER THREAT WARNING SYSTEM

This Small Business Innovative Research proposal is submitted in response to the Eyesafe Laser Threat Warning (ESLTW) Capability solicitation, N95-004. The concept described is driven by the goal to provide Laser Threat Warning (LTW) with Angle of Arrival (AOA) accuracy sufficient for countermeasures while covering the spectral range between 0.40 and 2.1 utm. Base on these goals, MRC and lIL have combined efforts to propose the ESLTW Receiver (ESLTWR) system, a small, conformal and low-profile laser detection system whose optics can be embedded into the skin of the host aircraft. A goal of the ESLTWR is to address the unique integration issues of the incorporating laser warning on the aircraft. By integrating the ESLTWR optics into the skin to the host aircraft this system will reduce the community concerns on increased vehicle signatures. The proposed receiver not only addresses the eyesafe laser threats but does not neglect the primary threat such as ND:YAG and double YAG. The ESLTWR system extends this coverage via a unique and novel sandwich detector approach consisting of Silicon and InGaAs detectors. Wavelength identification from 1.1 to 2.1 lam is provided to an accuracy of 20 manometers over a field of view (FOV) of 45 degrees. An AOA accuracy of 3 degrees is obtained over the FOV in the spectral band of 0.4 to 2.1 @m.