A performance figure of merit for focal plane array semi-active laser seekers

摘要

Several organisations are currently developing concepts for multi-functional seekers which provide a passive imaging and a semi-active laser (SAL) imaging capability in the same focal plane array. The combination of the two functions in the same seeker has the promise of reducing costs by reducing the number of missile variants. The combination also allows new concepts of operations, for example handover between the two imaging modes during a mission. Performance of the SAL aspect relies on signal detection above both the detector noise and the solar clutter. Thus system specification is more complex than simply defining the sensitivity of the detector. Using parametric radiometric calculations, we propose a seeker Figure of Merit to take account of the solar clutter. The Figure of Merit could provide an additional specification to guarantee performance of the system. The requirement on the Figure of Merit is estimated for various engagement scenarios and conditions. The performance of the seekers, in this context, is evaluated using published and estimated values for the parameters.