Night Vision Dev Ed

Abstract

This project performs Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) on high performance night vision, Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) systems and other related systems that allow forces to locate and track enemy units in day, night, and all battlefield conditions, and through natural and man-made structures and obscurants. It also develops and integrates suites of these sensors to provide well-defined surveillance and targeting capabilities, as well as architectures for these sensors to communicate automatically. These efforts focus on meeting the requisite night vision and RSTA capabilities required for evolving Current Force, Modular Force, and Future Force systems. The project supports the 3rd Generation Forward Looking Infrared (3GEN FLIR) B-Kit EMD program, which incorporates the next generation of forward looking infrared technologies. The 3GEN FLIR EMD program will develop a common 3GEN FLIR B-Kit for integration into US Army FLIR sensor systems in accordance with the approved Improved Forward Looking Infrared (I-FLIR) Capability Development Document (CDD). The common 3GEN FLIR B-Kit prescribed by the I-FLIR CDD will allow the Army to achieve economies of scale and avoid duplicative engineering and development costs. As a result, 3GEN FLIR capabilities can be delivered at a lower cost to the Abrams and Next Generation Combat Vehicle / Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (NGCV/OMFV) platforms, while potentially leveraging 3GEN FLIR components for airborne applications. The 3GEN FLIR B-Kit provides Mid Wave Infrared and Long Wave Infrared digital video and the electronic interfaces required to integrate the 3GEN FLIR technology with the host platform sensor. When integrated in current sensor packages, 3GEN FLIR technology enhances the war-fighters' survivability and lethality through increased identification range performance, while enabling the detection of difficult or obscured targets and faster threat detection through automated processes. The 3GEN FLIR B-Kit EMD program is also a key element in maintaining the Army's FLIR industrial base. The project supports the LRAS3 Modification Work Order (MWO) to integrate the 3GEN FLIR B-Kit. The LRAS3 MWO effort includes integration of 3GEN FLIR B-Kit technology, an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), and an M-code Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. Collectively, these capabilities will improve the Far Target Location (FTL) accuracy of the LRAS3 and enhance the scout's survivability and lethality through increased detection, recognition and identification range performance. This project also executes the Army Sensor Computing Environment (CE) effort which is part of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA-ALT) Common Operating Environment (COE) program. The Sensor CE effort focuses on increasing sensor interoperability across the enterprise and improving the Soldier-machine interface. This is done by defining, demonstrating and standardizing Sensor interfaces across the Army networks. Standardized interfaces delivered from this effort will be incorporated into current and future sensor systems and programs. FY 2020 Base funding in the amount of $39.026 million supports the 3 GEN FLIR B-Kit EMD program activities. Additionally, FY 2020 Base Funding supports the 3GEN LRAS3 program and the continued activities associated with meeting sensor interoperability requirements and improving the Soldier machine interface in support of the Army's vision of the Common Operating Environment (COE).

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2020
• Source ID: L70_0604710A_5_2040_PB_2020

Tags

Fields of Study

• Engineering

Readers

• Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.
• Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.
• Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

• Microelectronics
• Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems
• Space