Infrared missile warning sensors

Current developments in infrared missile warning are taking advantage of recent advances in focal plane arrays and signal processing. The large, mechanically complex scanning sensors of a generation ago are being replaced with compact sensors using staring detector arrays. These new sensors present a new set of design problems coupled with generally more severe signal processing requirements. In this presentation, we consider the infrared characteristics of threat missiles and backgrounds and show how we may characterize the performance of staring array sensors and the associated signal processing for target-background discrimination. Of particular interest, are the development of techniques for multicolor discrimination and assessment of the feasibility of using uncooled detector arrays.