Aircraft Infrared Principles, Signatures, Threats, and Countermeasures

Abstract : This document is a supplementary text to the electronic warfare (EW) short courses, EW-101 and EW-102, which are taught annually at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), Point Mugu, California. Like the EW courses, this material is intended for a general audience without an infrared (IR) background who is looking for a practical overview of the field directed toward the problems of aircraft defense. The object is to convey the key concepts primarily through drawings and images. A few equations are provided when words and figures are inadequate but are not essential to grasping the concepts. A deeper understanding of IR requires much more theory than contained here; but, ideally, the material here will provide a basis to build upon for those interested in continuing in this most interesting of fields.