Advanced SiC Based Strapdown Active/Passive Seeker

Next-generation strategic missile seekers (Advanced THAAD,EKV,MKV,Boost Phase KEW) need to provide significantly improved target acquisition, detection, discrimination and hit-to-kill guidance capability against advanced threats. Current seekers primarilyuse IR imaging. Next-generation THAAD seekers will employ strapdown optical architectures that simultaneously integrate multi-color IR passive imagers with active LADAR imagers. SSGPO proposes an advanced strapdown active/passive seeker incorporating: (1)very compact, high-performance optical design simultaneously providing moderately wide FOVs, IR imaging and LADAR imagers that can rapidly be pointed and stabilized over the complete FOV; (2) low-cost, snap together, near-visible-quality SiCultralightweight/stiff telescope with superior thermal/optical stability; (3) very agile, high-precision, wide Field-of-Regard external pointing mirror insensitive to thermal and vibration environments; (4) miniature IRU mounted to the telescope structure;and (5) advanced ruggedized window design that provides near-visible-quality performance and high transmission over LADAR to LWIR wavebands. Phase 1 will define the advanced seeker design approach and demonstrate a key technology element. Phase 2 willdevelop a