This paper surveys the projected advancements in technology areas applicable to imaging infrared seeker designs for tactical missiles projected to exist between the years 2010 to 2020. The results are part of a study conducted by the Signature Technology Laboratory in the Georgia Tech Research Institute under the direction of Air Force Research Laboratories. This paper reviews a wide variety of databases for published technical literature describing advances in critical technologies for tactical missile systems. The information provides forecasts of improvements in missile subsystem technologies to provide justifiable missile configurations for the given time frame. Although the paper reviews the state of the art in missile subsystems including the fuse, warhead, flight control, and propulsion systems, emphasis is on the seeker and acquisition and tracking algorithms. The seeker subsystems addressed include the dome, optics, detector, stabilization system, readout, analog-to-digital conversion, and signal processor. The study analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of current designs to identify key technology areas for improvement as well as to survey and forecast their development. Key parameters that describe the performance of the individual subsystems are identified and related to measures of effectiveness for the individual components and overall missile system. Design equations describing the performance of the advanced configurations are documented and used to predict the effectiveness of future designs. As part of the study, these predictions will then be applied to postulate the hardware and software configurations for two missile designs anticipated for the 2010 to 2020 time frame in sufficient detail to project their performance.
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