Demonstration of advanced solid state ladar (DASSL)

The Armament Directorate of Wright Laboratory is tasked with pursuing technologies that lead towards autonomous guidance for conventional munitions. Seeker technologies pursued include SAR, imaging infrared, millimeter wave, and laser radar seekers. Laser Radar, or LADAR, systems using uncooled diode pumped solid state lasers operating around 1 micrometers are active sensors providing high resolution range and intensity imagery. LADAR is not susceptible to variations common to thermal IR systems, allowing greater simplicity of autonomous target acquisition algorithms. Therefore, LADAR sensors combined with advanced algorithms provide robust seeker technology capable of autonomous precision guidance. The small smart bomb (SSB) is a next generation weapon concept requiring this precision guidance. The 250 pound SSB penetrator provides the lethality of 2000 pound penetrators by delivering 50 pounds of high explosive with surgical precision. Space limitations, tightly controlled impact conditions, and high weapon velocities suggest laser radar as a candidate seeker. This paper discusses phase I of the DASSL program in which SSB weapon requirements are flowed down to seeker requirements through a structured system requirement analysis, and discusses how these seeker requirements affect seeker design.