IR propagation in coastal environment: results of the VAMPIRA trial

Karin Stein; Henrik Vogel

doi:10.1117/12.693497

Abstract

The detection and tracking of missiles flying at a low altitude above the sea surface is one of the most urgent problems in ship self defense. These tasks are mainly managed by IR-Search and Track systems in the mid and long wave IR and by RADAR Systems. Both systems suffer severe limitations. The range efficiency of IR-systems is limited by atmospheric effects in the marine boundary layer. The NATO AC/323 SET-56/RTG32 on Integration of Radar and Infrared for Ship Self Defense has investigated the radar and infrared synergism with respect to propagation in a coastal environment. In spring 2004, the members have held the "VAlidation Measurements for Propagation in the Infrared and RAdar" (VAMPIRA). To have a direct comparison of RF and EO behavior, several systems were set up at the same altitude above sea level (approx. 19 m). This paper deals with the results of the IR-measurements. To simulate point-like targets at low altitudes, hot sources at different temperatures were installed onboard a small boat. Numerous mid and long-wave IR sensors made simultaneous measurements on the boat to analyse extinction versus range, maximum detection ranges and refraction effects. One efficient propagation models for the IR is IRBLEM (IR Boundary Layer Effects Model), developed by DRDC. The measurements of the boat runs were compared to the model predictions. Most of the measured data analyzed in this paper were gained by DDRE, DK. Based on the Danish results on the signal variations with range, a comparison with a Thermal Range Model for Point Target Detection (TRP) was done. TRP is an analytic model which had been developed at FGAN-FOM to estimate the range performance of a point target detection system working in the infrared.

Citation Download Citation

Karin Stein, Karin Stein, Henrik Vogel, Henrik Vogel, "IR propagation in coastal environment: results of the VAMPIRA trial", Proc. SPIE 6364, Optics in Atmospheric Propagation and Adaptive Systems IX, 636407 (28 September 2006); doi: 10.1117/12.693497; https://doi.org/10.1117/12.693497

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