Point Target Detection for Missile Warning

Tanner Research is developing an IR sensor algorithm that is crucial to the missile warning mission: detecting dim moving point targets. Its enhancement of dim target signatures increases the probability of detection, and provides for longer rangeacquisition of incoming threat missiles. Its compact, low-power hardware implementation is practical for use with airborne sensor processors.Leveraging more than nine years of developing the Wave Process for broad definitions of missions, Tanner Research proposes to adapt the Wave Process to the specific requirements of missile warning from an airborne IR sensor.In Phase I we will demonstrate the benefit that the Wave Process provides to the missile warning mission, running realistic imagery of threat missile scenarios relevant to WPAFB through our existing high-fidelity Wave Process simulation and modifying thealgorithm as needed. In Phase II we will develop an efficient hardware implementation of the Wave Process, suitable for use with the airborne IR sensor processor.We will work with the missile warning community to ensure that our activities are aligned with their objectives, to maximize the utility of our technology to their systems in Phase III. IR sensors utilizing Wave Process point target detection technology will provide new levels of performance for the missile warning mission.