Abstract: Range information from a laser radar can be used to rapidly converge target track files for theater missile defense from an airborne sensor platform. This paper examines the application of laser radar technology to this mission. Eyesafe lasers including carbon dioxide, holmium/thulium, and YAG shifted by optical parametric oscillators or Raman cells are considered. Performance analyses include the effects of wavelength dependent target cross sections, atmospheric attenuation and background radiation, and either direct or heterodyne detection processes on the received signal to noise ratio. Signal processing analyses include the effects of noise statistics, target fading for either direct or heterodyne detection, and the optical wavelength dependent effects of atmospheric turbulence on system false alarm and detection probabilities. !5
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