Ballistic Missile Innovative Electro-Optic Products

The MDA has identified a need for applications or or modifications to existing products whether Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) or Military-off-theshelf (MOTS) that are applied in creative ways to MDA systems, subsystems, or component requirements. CTIproposes an innovative improvement to its commercial METEORT product by integrating the METEORT with CTI's innovative self imaging technology applied to high power amplification to provide a high power, high quality laser source for laser radarapplications. The proposed laser source implements a proprietary self-imaging process in a large core fiber to retain the high efficiency, diffraction-limited beam quality and excellent thermal handling of a single-mode fiber laser, while scaling theaperture to handle much higher peak power levels. This system can be made more compact than more complicated laser radar laser sources while retaining the quality and power needed for laser radar applications. During Phase I, CTI will perform proof ofconcept and risk reduction experiments. During Phase II, CTI will build and test a prototype system. The E-O technologies developed here will have dual application in both defense and commercial manufacturing processes by reducing cost, improveproducibility, and enhance performance of products. This compact laser/amplifier source has potential applications in laser radar systems including a UAV surveillance craft, kinetic energy intercept (KEI) and a variety of commercial and militarydiagnostic systems examining highly cluttered targets in difficult environments, such as the systems desired to diagnose ordinace delivery damage assessment.