Active/Passive Long Wavelength Infrared (LWIR) Laser Guidance.

A technical assessment has been made of the opportunities for the use of two or more wavelengths, or of passive and active optical systems, acting in combination for the purpose of missile guidance and target acquisition. In addition, considerations relative to the choice of waveband and current state-of-the-art in components and signal processing are related to requirements for guidance systems. Adverse environments and fire-and-forget capability are emphasized. Most dual wavelength systems described in the literature are of little value for the missile guidance and target acquisition problem where the target is likely to be imbedded in strong clutter. The combination of and active and passive system does offer a unique combination of advantages in contrast to other combinations of active-active and passive-passive systems. The characteristics of an active-passive systems operating in the 8-14 micrometer wavelength region are discussed. The desirability of this wavelength region and the favorable status of component technology for the wavelength region make this an attractive alternative for seekers or trackers for missile guidance. The study also shows the strong need for more data on active signatures for both targets and clutter. Author