Advanced Seeker Technologies

Laser radar seekers are used in kill vehicle missiles for functions ranging from target recognition and discrimination to end game guidance. Frequently, the laser radar performance is limited by the pointing error of the fine steering mirror. Improvedmethods of measuring the angular position of the mirror would allow better feedback control of the mirror and thus significantly improve the overall performance of the laser radar.In this SBIR submittal, Saraswati is pleased to propose several optical interferometric approaches for measuring steering mirror angular position that:¿ Have an angular resolution of better than 15 nano-radians¿ Have anangular position readout rate of greater than 25 kHz¿ Have virtually no impact to the loading condition on the scan mirror¿ Have greater than ¿3¿ mechanical measurement range of the steering mirror¿ Approach ratified by system prime for potential use in various BMD programsSaraswati engineers have architected and reduced to practice an extensive list of optical sensing systems. The systems have been over a very wide range of applications and requirements primarily focusing on very high sensitivity systems. Based on thisexperience, Saraswati's assessment is that the development of a measurement system based on the interferometric concepts presented below to be of relatively low risk. This technology will be applied to the next generation of seekers for hit to kill and other applications. Developing and employing this technology is on the technology roadmap of DOD and vehicle systems houses