Detecting laser sources on the battlefield

J. Dubois; F. Reid

doi:10.1117/12.779234

26 October 2007 Detecting laser sources on the battlefield

J. Dubois, F. Reid

Proceedings Volume 6796, Photonics North 2007; 67962F (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.779234
Event: Photonics North 2007, 2007, Ottawa, Canada

Abstract

The proliferation of laser-assisted weapons on the battlefield has prompted the development of laser warning receivers (LWR) to protect the platforms. Such devices are required to identify, locate and characterize the laser threats so that responsive countermeasures (CM) can be effectively deployed. The laser-assisted weapons can be divided in three main categories namely the laser rangefinders (LRF), the laser target designator (LTD) and the laser beam riders (LBR). The two first types are based on low-divergence high peak-power laser sources whereas the LBRs use a variable divergence low-power source. The problem for a LWR to detect these lasers comes from the huge dynamic range (9 decades) necessary to both detect the lasers on-axis and off-axis up to a few degrees. Moreover, in the case of the LBR, the detection threshold has to be set extremely low to cope with the very low irradiance it generates at the LWR. Normally a separate detection channel is necessary for the LBR and the angular resolution very limited. This paper describes the laser threats and the phenomenology involved in the detection process. The work done at DRDC Valcartier in the domain of laser sensors and LWRs is presented together with a series of results obtained in the field. Finally, the CM aspect and the integration of the LWR into a more complete protection suite are discussed.

Citation Download Citation

J. Dubois and F. Reid "Detecting laser sources on the battlefield", Proc. SPIE 6796, Photonics North 2007, 67962F (26 October 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.779234

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