1/16/2004 Session 2 - Carroll 1

Seeker/Sensor
Technology Assessment for ECAP
Presented by Tim Carroll


1/16/2004 Session 2 - Carroll 2
Seeker/Sensor Technology
Assessmsnt

Huntsville, Alabama January 16, 2004
Tim Carroll
AMCOM
tjcarroll@knology.net



1/16/2004 Session 2 - Carroll 3
Seeker/Sensor Technology Assessment
Outline
Definitions
Background Information
Seeker Types
Radar Seekers
Electro-Optical Seekers
Laser Seekers

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Definition of a Seeker
Definition - The seeker is the eye of a missile. Its job is to acquire and
track the target until the missile impacts the target. The seeker
provides bore-sight error signals (position of the target relative to the
center axis of the missile) to the guidance algorithms. This energy is
usually electromagnetic (EM) but can be other forms of energy as well
(i.e., acoustic).

Seeker Block Diagram

Transmitter
Gimbal
Platform
Receiver/Detector
Aperture
(Antenna or Optics)
Target
To
Guidance
Computer
Electrical Processor

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Seeker Field-of-View and Field-of-Regard
Field-of-View The angular area in space at which the seeker can
observe at any given time (the FoV for radar seekers if referred to as
Beam Width).
Field-of-Regard The total angular area that a seeker can view by
slewing the seeker aperture up and down and left to right on gimbals.
Some missile seekers have no slewing mechanism and are called strap-
down seekers (then the FoV and FoR are the equal).

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Seeker/Sensor Discipline Interaction
Guidance Scheme
Seeker Type (Active or Passive)
Size Constraints
Diameter
Length
Target Type
Wavelength
Power Requirements

Operational Engagement Requirements
Engagement Time Lines
Coverage Area

Logistics Considerations
Packaging and Handling


Seeker/Sensor
Design
System Simulation
FoV
Detection Range
Mechanical Design
and Layout
Size
Weight
Electrical System
Power Requirements
Voltage
Current
Aerodynamics
Nose Shape
Cost Constraints
Strap-Down vs. Gimballed
Multi-Mode

1/16/2004 Session 2 - Carroll 7
Electromagnetic Waves
An electromagnetic disturbance that is composed of time-varying
electric and magnetic fields and can transport energy through space,
even if no matter is present in that space, is called an electromagnetic
wave (abbreviated EM).
EM waves propagate at the speed of light.
The electric and magnetic waves in an EM wave are oriented at 90
degrees to each other and to the direction of propagation.
EM waves travel in straight lines.
Objects in temperature above absolute zero emit EM waves in the
Infrared (IR) spectrum.


Direction of Propagation

1/16/2004 Session 2 - Carroll 8
EM Wavelengths and Frequencies
EM frequencies and wavelengths are related by the
following expression:
f
c

where = wavelength, c = speed of light (3x10
8
meters/sec),
and f = frequency of oscillation.

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EM Atmospheric Attenuation

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Classification of Seekers/Sensors
Spectral Band
Seekers are catagorized by which spectral band of EM
radiation they operate within
Microwave
MMW
E-O (Visual and IR)
Laser (CO2 10.6mm, YAG 1.06mm, GaAs 0.9mm)
Band Frequency Wavelength
L 1,000 2,000 MHz. 30 15 cm
S 2,000 4,000 MHz. 15 7.5 cm
C 4,000 8,000 MHz. 7.5 3.75 cm
X 8,000 12,500 MHz. 3.75 2.4 cm
Ku 12.5 18 GHz. 2.4 1.67 cm
K 18 26.5 GHz. 1.67 1.13 cm
Ka 26.5 40 GHz. 1.13 0.75 cm
MMW > 30 GHz. < 1.0 cm
Visible 0.38 0.76 mm
Middle IR 3 8 mm
Long IR 8 14 mm

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Classification of Seekers/Sensors
Active/Passive/Semi-Active
Active seekers transmit energy and the receive the
reflected energy. Examples are Microwave Radars,
Millimeter Wave Radars, and Laser Radars (LADAR).
Passive seekers look for natural occurring EM radiation
(Infrared) or reflected EM radiation (Visual).
Semi-Active Seekers operate in one of two modes:
Other asset illuminates target while missile seeker
operates in a passive mode to detect reflect EM
radiation.
Missile is guided to target by other asset and then the
missile seeker becomes active near the target. This is
also called Terminal Active

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Classification of Seekers/Sensors
Stabilization Mechanization
Stabilized Seeker Head
Seeker Head is isolated from the missile body motion
through gimbals, servo motors, and rate sensors. A
clear stabilized image/signal is presented to the seeker
detectors.
Increase cost,complexity, size and weight
Strap-Down Seeker
Seeker is rigidly attached to the missile body and
observes the same motion as the missile
Cheaper, lower quality image/signal, smaller Field of
Regard
Limited engagement geometries

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Microwave Radar Seekers/Sensors
Advantages
-All Weather
- Range and Range Rate Information
- Long Operating Ranges
- Low degradation due to battlefield obsurants
- Doppler detection for moving targets
- Low drag nose shapes
State of the Art
-Phased Array Radars
- Doppler Beam Sharpening
- Synthetic Aperture Radar
- Radiometric
- Multisensor/Sensor Fusion
Disadvantages
-Large Components
- Large Aperature
- Active Mode
- Large Angular Resolution
- High Cost
Microwave Radars are best suited for large missiles or ground based systems

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Millimeter Wave Seekers/Sensors
Advantages
- All Weather with some degradation
- Range and Range Rate Information
- Small Components
- Small Angular Resolution
- Doppler detection for moving targets
- Low drag nose shapes
State of the Art
- Small Components
- Doppler Beam Sharpening
- Strapdown Configurations
- Radiometric
- Multisensor/Sensor Fusion
Disadvantages
- Active Mode
- High Cost
- Relatively Short Operating Ranges
MMW Wave Radars are suited well for small missiles and short detection ranges

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IR Seekers/Sensors
Advantages
- Small Components
- Small Aperture
- Very Small Angular Resolution
- Passive Mode
- Small Miss Distances
- Aim-point Bias Capability
State of the Art
- Focal Plane Array
- Uncooled IR Sensors
- Strapdown Configurations
- Multisensor/Sensor Fusion
Disadvantages
- Weather Degradation - Moderate
- Battlefield Obscurant Degradation - Moderate
- No Range or Range Rate Information
- High Cost
- High Drag Nose Shapes Required
IR Seekers are suited well for small missiles and short
detection ranges that require precise hit locations

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Visual Seekers/Sensors
Advantages
- Small Components
- Small Aperture
- Very Small Angular Resolution
- Passive Mode
- Small Miss Distances
- Aim-point Bias Capability
State of the Art
- Strapdown Configurations
- Multisensor/Sensor Fusion
Disadvantages
- Weather Degradation - High
- Battlefield Obscurant Degradation - High
- No Range or Range Rate Information
- High Cost
- High Drag Nose Shapes Required
- Cannot Operate at Night
Visual Seekers are not in use much
anymore due to the lack of night
vision and lack of capability in
obscured environments

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Laser Seekers/Sensors
Advantages
- Small Components
- Small Aperture
- Range and Range Rate Information
- Small Miss Distances
- Aim-point Bias Capability
State of the Art
- LADAR
- Side-Looking Beamriders
- Multisensor/Sensor Fusion
Disadvantages
- Weather Degradation - High
- Battlefield Obscurant Degradation - High
- Dependency on Designator (Semi-Active)
- High Cost
- No Fire-and-Forget Capability
- Small Search Areas
Laser Seekers are used in semi-active
missiles where designating assets are
available

1/16/2004 Session 2 - Carroll 18
Sample Calculations
Snapshot from MS
Excel utility used in
Seeker/Sensor
Design.

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