Performance requirements for countermeasures lasers

Ian Elder

doi:10.1117/12.868323

15 October 2010 Performance requirements for countermeasures lasers

Ian Elder

Proceedings Volume 7836, Technologies for Optical Countermeasures VII; 783605 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.868323
Event: SPIE Security + Defence, 2010, Toulouse, France

Abstract

Performance requirements for laser sources, operating in the mid-IR, providing protection of airborne platforms from heat-seeking missiles are reviewed. The critical performance characteristic for a countermeasures laser is 'useful energy on target', which requires the laser to generate high brightness output in the appropriate spectral bands with rapid turn-on time. Integration with a compact beam director places an upper limit on the beam quality of the laser output. The key driver for the detailed laser design is to maximise the overall wallplug efficiency in order to minimise the complexity and volume, in turn maximising the reliability and reducing the cost. In particular routes to reduce the thermal management system for the laser produce the single largest improvement in overall wallplug efficiency, with the ultimate goal of realising a truly athermal laser. Candidate technologies for IR countermeasures lasers are briefly reviewed.

Citation Download Citation

Ian Elder "Performance requirements for countermeasures lasers", Proc. SPIE 7836, Technologies for Optical Countermeasures VII, 783605 (15 October 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.868323

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