A dual mode R.F./IR seeker suitable for use in an anti-radiation missile is disclosed. The infrared sensor is responsive to radiation within the 4.0 to 4.8 micron band and the radio frequency sensor is responsive to radio frequency signals within a 6.5 to 16.5 GHz band. The infrared sensor comprises a folded Cassegrainian telescope arrangement, including a primary mirror which is transparent to radio frequency energy. The radio frequency sensor comprises an annular array of orthogonally disposed stripline flared notch radiating elements. A broadband microwave receiver, fabricated in a multilayered stripline package, is provided for forming radio frequency monopulse sum () and difference () signals and for converting such radio frequency monopulse signals to suitable intermediate frequency signals for processing in an I.F. receiver. The infrared and radio frequency sensors share a common aperture and optical axis.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to determining a course-correction signal for a spin-stabilized projectile based on a time sequence of images of a scene aligned with and obtained by a forward-looking imager coupled to the projectile. As the projectile rotates, the aligned scenes captured in the images obtained by the forward-looking imager are rotated. The rotation angle of each of the captured scenes corresponds to the spin angle of the projectile at the time of image exposure. Objects in the captured scenes will circle about a rotation center of the time-sequence images. The distances from a rotation center to the objects in the captured scenes, as well as the rotation angles of the captured scenes can be used to generate a course-correction signal so that the projectile can be guided to a target selected from the objects in the captured scene.

Technology for determining a geographical location is described. A sequence of magnetic field gradient measurements can be identified for specific positions on the Earth that correspond to a path traveled by a moving platform. The sequence of magnetic field gradient measurements for the path can be compared to a reference magnetic field gradient map. A trajectory derived from the reference magnetic field gradient map that correlates to the sequence of magnetic field gradient measurements can be identified. The trajectory can have known geographical coordinates. The geographical location of the moving platform can be determined based on the known geographical coordinates of the trajectory.

A dual mode electromagnetic detection system and a protective dome for the electromagnetic detection system are described. The protective dome includes a substrate having a portion transparent to both infrared radiation and radio frequency radiation. The portion of the substrate includes a macromolecular material including a polymer selected from a family of polyolefins and an antistatic additive.

Provided is an apparatus for detecting airborne objects comprising a kill vehicle bus having a radar sensor. The radar sensor may be an interferometric sensor comprising a plurality of transmit-receive arrays. Each of the transmit-receive arrays may be adapted to be stowed in a stowed position in or on the kill vehicle bus, and may be adapted to be expandable from the stowed position to an operable position.

A spherically constrained optical seeker assembly includes a spherical lens having an outer surface, an optical sensor assembly associated with the spherical lens, and a gimbal assembly. The optical sensor assembly is coupled to the gimbal assembly. The gimbal assembly is configured to move the optical sensor assembly to at least one desired position on the outer surface of the spherical lens. A method of manipulating the optical sensor assembly includes positioning the optical sensor assembly with respect to the spherical lens and moving the optical sensor assembly to at least one desired position with respect to the outer surface of the spherical lens by the gimbal assembly.

A seeker includes a detection array having at least 2500 sensing pixels arranged in rows by row request lines and in columns by column request lines. At least one pixel includes an electromagnetic radiation sensor to trigger the pixel in response to sensing a triggering quantity of electromagnetic radiation, a row request circuit to send a row request after the pixel triggers, and a column request circuit to send a column request after the pixel triggers. The seeker further includes a row receiver to receive the row requests, a column receiver to receive the column requests, and a sequencer to receive, for each triggering pixel, the row of the row request and the column of the column request, and to generate an event including the received row and column of the pixel. The seeker also includes a time stamper to generate a time stamp for the generated event.

A closed, self-contained ballistic apogee detection module for use in a projectile, such as a rocket, mortar round, or artillery round, fuses data from multiple built-in sensors, such as an accelerometer, a magnetometer, and a gyroscope, and processes the data using a microprocessor through a custom quaternion extended Kalman filter to provide accurate state and orientation information about the projectile so as to accurately predict apogee. The module outputs a signal indicating apogee detection or prediction which they projectile uses to initiate fuze arming, targeting control, airbody transformation, maneuvering, flow effector deployment or activation, payload exposure or deployment, and/or other mission activity. Because the system and method of the invention does not rely on external environmental data to detect apogee, it need not use a pressure sensor and can be completely sealed in and closed without requiring access to air from outside the projectile for barometric readings.

A system comprising an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to transition from a terminal homing mode to a target search mode, responsive to an uplink signal and/or an autonomous determination of scene change.

Optical sensors and particularly gimbaled optical sensors transmit an active signal at a given wavelength(s) and receive passive signals over a range of wavelengths and the active signal in a common aperture. The sensor includes a Tx/Rx Aperture Sharing Element (ASE) configured with a center region that couples the active signal to the telescope for transmission and an annular region that couples the passive emissions and the returned active signal to the detector. A filter wheel may be positioned behind the ASE to present separate passive and active images to the detector. These optical sensors may, for example, be used with guided munitions or autonomous vehicles.