Popis: |
Monocular Passive Ranging (MPR) employs a single multicolor IR sensor to passively range to a boosting theater ballistic missile (TBM). Airborne active ranging sensor, such as radars and ladars, may attract anti-radiation missiles, and are forced to large standoff distances. Thus, they may not be positioned to give adequate early warning of a missile launch, Estimation of launch position, or prediction of impact points. Ground based radars may not 'see' sufficiently over the horizon. In contrast, an MPR sensor can be deployed close to or within denied enemy territory and remain covert to observe a TBM as early as its launch, to discriminate and track the TBM target, and to provide very timely and accurate reports on launch position, predicted flight and impact positions. A passive sensor can be in a small package, have low weight, low power, relatively low cost, and be readily adaptable to airborne and spaceborne platforms. This paper discusses an airborne data collection program to demonstrate useful MPR accuracy to boosting TBMs. Engineering and sensors performance tradeoffs, and range error budgets are discussed. |