Radiation Hardened Infrared Focal Plan Array (FPA)

Missile defense systems often need to operate in harsh natural and man-made environments with significantly elevated radiation levels, and many orbital missile defense platformsÆ routine surveillance and remote sensing functionalities critically rely on radiation-hardened high performance infrared FPAs, with wavelengths varying from visible to long-wavelength-infrared (LWIR) and even very-long-wavelength-infrared (VLWIR) bands. The FPAs and cameras used in missile defense platforms are often under high-energy particle irradiation, even can be exposed to various types of radiation, including simultaneous intense fluxes of electron, proton, high energy photon, and neutron radiation. As a result, radiation hardened FPAs and cameras are essential to fully accomplish the national missile defense mission and support national safety. Approved for Public Release | 24-MDA-11906 (16 Sep 24)