Electro-Optical Warfare
Abstract
The proliferation of optical communications and sensor systems has created a need for electronic warfare (EW) approaches that can be used in the electro-optical (EO) domain. Unfortunately, while there is a sophisticated suite of counter RF approaches, there is no such capability against EO signals, which are hard to find; and when found, even harder to suppress. The EO Warfare program will extend EW into the optical domain by developing the capacity to defeat EO systems including: laser communications systems, EO/IR sensors, and laser imagers and seekers. This program will exploit the significant advances that have been made in compact lasers, laser spectrum agility, and microelectronics to develop optical EW systems including an optical digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) equivalent. Key challenges include detection and processing of optical signals for sensors (photon gating, embedded signal processing) integrated with detector arrays, and adaptive and computational optics that can be applied to finding EO-based communications and active sensors. The product of the EO Warfare program is to develop new techniques and systems that can defeat laser communications and active optical sensor systems at >50km range. Improved understanding of countermeasures to active sensors will also improve the robustness of our own developmental and fielded Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and communications systems. Technologies from this program will transition to the Services.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2013
- Source ID
- 7f8e603e57cee513329f59eb6d449fd8
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- Root: SENSOR TECHNOLOGY