Aluminum Matrix Composites for Lightweight Integrated Opto-Mechanical Assemblies in Infrared Seekers

Recent advances in the development of lightweight materials which possess high strength, are dimensionally stable over wide temperature ranges, and can be machined to optical tolerances offer the potential to reduce the complexity and cost of future infrared (IR) tolerances offer the potential to reduce the complexity and cost of future infrared (IR) seekers systems and other electro optical systemsfor military applciaitons. Triton Systems proposed to introduce near net shape metal matrix composites (MMC's) into the design of lightweight monolithic opto-mechanical assemblies. THe Phase I program will develop and evaluate an opto-mechanical grade aluminum matrix composite amterial for a key infrared seeker component such as the optical telescope, or its supporting structure. The test program will verify the properties of the MMC material and demonstrate the quality of the hardware fabricated in order to show viability for full scale qualificaiton teting in follow on Phase II. The Phase I program will establish the feasibility of designing producible, integrated sensor assembly incorporating aluminum matrix composites that provides reduced weight, complexity and cost while maintaining high optical and dimensional stability; passive athermalization over a wide temperature ranges and precision line of sight control under stressing vibrational environments.