Seeker optics are provided for a missile seeker head, in particular a guided missile seeker head. The seeker optics contain an optical system having at least one optical element, which is aligned so as to be positioned with respect to an optical axis and is held in at least one optics frame. The optics frame contains an actively shape-variable substance by which the location of the at least one optical element in the optical system can be varied relative to the optical axis and/or by which the shape of the optical element can be adaptively varied.

A proximity sensor for a Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) is provided. A proximity sensor for a Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) includes: an electronics package unit (EPU) configured to be connected to a front end of a warhead; and at least one sensor separate from the EPU and configured to be connected to a forward adapter that is connected to the front end of the warhead. The at least one sensor is configured to obtain data that is used to determine a height above ground of the LGB. The EPU is configured to compare the determined height above ground to a predefined value. The EPU is configured to generate a detonation signal for the warhead based on the determined height above ground being equal to or less than the predefined value.

A system and method to aid in guidance, navigation and control of a guided projectile including a precision guidance munition assembly is provided. The system and method obtain raw position data during flight of the guided projectile, the raw position data including a plurality of position data points from the guiding sensor for determining positions of the guided projectile, establish a window including a portion of the plurality of position data points, smooth the portion of the plurality of position data points in the window, and determine a reduced noise position estimate of the guided projectile, based, at least in part, on the smoothed portion of the plurality of position data points in the window. The system and method may determine a velocity estimate of the guided projectile and predict an impact point of the guided projectile relative to a target.

An imaging and asynchronous laser pulse detector (ALPD) device, imaging cell of the imaging and ALPD device and method of use is disclosed. A detector generates an electrical signal in response to receiving an optical signal, wherein a frequency of the electrical signal is indicative of a frequency of the optical signal. A first detection/readout circuit is sensitive to a first frequency range, and a second detection/readout circuit is sensitive to a second frequency range. The first detection/readout circuit allows the electrical signal to pass from the first detection/readout circuit to the second detection/readout circuit.

The system and method of directed navigation using an augmented semi-active laser seeker to provide initial altitude measurement and command denotation information for rounds. Using on-board sensors and communications links between members of a swarm, numerous targets can be engaged more quickly and precisely. The LCSAL can act as 3D LIDAR where the LCSAL's spatial resolution and the associated image from the imager can be correlated to the LCSAL pixel by pixel as time of arrival. The rounds trajectory can be refined due to coupling with accurate Target ID to provide optimum command detonation for specific target types.

The fuse mode of a laser guided munition is remotely set and/or changed by encoding fuse mode information onto fuse mode designating light received by the light detector of the munition. Embodiments do not require hardware modification of existing munitions and/or control systems. The mode designating light can be the target designating laser light, and the fuse mode information can be encoded together with counter counter measure (CCM) information. Or the mode designating light source can be a separate laser or non-laser light source. Encoding of the fuse mode information can be by modulation and/or wavelength selection of the mode designating light. In embodiments, the fuse mode can be selected before and/or after launch of the munition.

The system and method of swarm navigation using a follow the forward approach. Using on-board sensors and communications links between members of a swarm, numerous targets can be engaged more quickly and precisely. In some cases, a designator is used to help a forward of the swarm navigate to a target using image-based navigation up until terminal guidance is used. A cascade of messages are projected back to a following round so that, each member of a swarm can determine a best target/round match and provide real-time, up-to-date information regarding targets' locations and each round's location, range to target, target selection, and the like.

A missile controller guides a missile along a flight path to a stationary or moving target object. The missile controller has at least one side-looking sensor, configured to record surroundings data and has a field of view aligned transverse to the longitudinal axis of the missile, and a control unit having a reception unit for receiving target object data regarding the target object. The target object data containing position data, orientation data and/or speed data of the target object. The control unit is configured to set the orientation of the missile during the guidance at least partly based on the received target object data such that the target object is located in the field of view of the side-looking sensor at least in sections of a final guidance phase.

It is proposed to make a threat better visible for a defensive measure. In this context, the threat (2) should be imaged more intensely for the defensive measure. For the purposes of more effective imaging, provision is made for the threat to emit a stronger IR signature and thus be able to stand out sufficiently against the background for the defensive measure. The stronger IR signature is caused by heating a surface of the threat, which is realized by a laser weapons system. The defensive measure can better detect this heating and has an IR seeker head to this end.

A system and method to aid in guidance, navigation and control of a guided projectile including a precision guidance munition assembly. The system and method receive position estimates of the guided projectile from a guiding sensor, determine predicted impact points of the guided projectile relative to a target based on the position estimates, determine miss distances of the guided projectile relative to the target, determine smoothed miss distances based, at least in part, on the determined miss distances, and process updated steering commands to steer the guided projectile based on the smoothed miss distances.