Deployable Hyperspectral Sensor for Tracking Long-range Plasma Emissions

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has a national defense-related mission to aid in the development of airborne and ground-based high-temperature plasma emission sensors that can detect and locate remote plasma source objects, such as missiles, at longer ranges and in shorter times. Swift response to a missile attack is only possible if the source can be identified in a timely manner, particularly if the source is hypersonic. Such objects with exceedingly high velocities, maneuverability, unpredictable flight trajectories, and high flight altitudes make effective engagement and interception increasingly difficult. However, plasma stealth and the rocket plume itself are a significant source of thermoluminescent emissions that can have a unique spectral footprint and be used to identify and locate a hypersonic missile with high sensitivity and certainty. This Phase I effort evaluates the design, feasibility and performance of a hyperspectral imaging-based sensor to detect directional photons with sufficient signal response, spectral resolution and readout capability to swiftly identify and locate a remote hypersonic plasma source from large standoff distances. We propose to deliver the MDA the complete design of a state-of-the-art hyperspectral sensor prototype for deployment on US Navy launchers that can provide the most powerful capabilities for threat detection and assistance to existing sensor suites to increase remote object identification confidence and range with reduced computational resources and time. Since measurements of a source entity that replicates the real-world plasma emission scenario as close as possible will be key in engineering and optimizing the capabilities of the hyperspectral sensor, the work plan will consist of conducting a spectroscopic analysis of plasma emissions from hypersonic projectiles travelling at up to 7 km/s to understand the spectral composition of the true source field. We will perform long-range plasma emission propagation experiments to validate MetroLaserÆs radiative absorption, scattering and divergence profilometry model and establish the sensitivity requirements for the hyperspectral sensor. Approved for Public Release | 24-MDA-11906 (16 Sep 24)