Infrared/Ultraviolet (IR/UV) Background Monitoring System (IRUVBMS)

The Benefield Anechoic Facility (BAF), a state-of-the-art installed system test facility (ISTF) at Edwards Air Force Base, California, is systematically upgrading capabilities to include infrared and electro-optical system testing. Meaningful testing ofthreat warning and countermeasure systems at the BAF is critically dependent on properly simulating the characteristics of the various IR and UV signatures. During actual testing, it is equally important to be able to monitor and verify that thesesignatures are being simulated as expected. The BAF currently has a requirement to develop an IR/UV Background Monitoring System (IRUVBMS) to monitor the spectral output of IR and UV image projectors and point-source stimulator systems for unwantedresults from electromagnetic interference (EMI) from the BAF RF environment. Under the Phase I effort, TSC will investigate innovative technical approaches, performing tradeoff studies addressing performance, cost, risk, complexity, ease of operation, andlimitations to arrive at a recommended technical approach. A preliminary system design for the IRUVBMS will then be developed. The development of the IRUVBMS should prove to be valuable to other military test facilities as well as commercial sensordevelopment companies for monitoring IR/UV signatures simulated to IR/UV systems and sensors.