Early Risk Reduction Phase 1 FLIR/Laser Designator Window. Revision

摘要

This program evaluated and tested materials and coatings for use as a commonaperture for a laser target designator (LTD) and a Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR). Desired characteristics include: transmission at 1.06 microns for laser and 8 to 11.5 microns for FLIR, radar frequency attenuation for low observability, and durability in tactical aircraft environments. The designs were a zinc sulfide/zinc selenide design and zinc selenide and gallium arsenide designs. All three designs had some degree of success in meeting optical transmission and RF attenuation goals, but all were damaged by sand and rain erosion. A large performance variability of the gallium arsenide used in this program indicated immaturity in the substrate manufacturing expertise. Our evaluation showed that substate cost is high and the industrial base for the production of large window panels is small. Production cost ranges from $190 per cubic inch for zinc selenide to $500 per cubic inch for gallium arsenide. Multi-paned windows for large field of regard operation could cost as much as $500,000.