Engineering Design Handbook - Infrared Military Systems. Part One

AMCP 706-127. — US Army Materiel Command, 1971. — 143 p.This publication is one of a group of handbooks prepared for the US Army Materiel Command under the auspices of the Engineering Handbook Office, Duke University, as part of the Engineering Design Handbook Series. Presented in this Handbook are the basic information and fundamental principles essential to the design and development of infrared systems for military applications. A great deal of information has already been published describing time-proven IR systems and technology; whereas, little or no information has appeared in open literature, such as this, describing the significant recent advances in IR technology and systems development. Therefore, the approach to this topic departs from the time-honored treatment of the subject of infrared technology. No attempt is made to present a complete exposition of the overall infrared discipline, but rather, most of the material is devoted to the significant technological advances of recent years. Recent requirements for tactical nighttime surveillance and detection capabilities have introduced new challenges. The result has been the successful development and application of multi-element arrays of IR detectors for reconnaissance and surveillance. This approach has considerably increased the effectiveness of IR systems in the field of combat as well as in global defense systems. Noteworthy advances have been made in the areas of low-light-level television and long-wavelength infrared. The implementation of IR searchlight and laser sources has further improved the range capability of IR systems, and has added a new capability to infrared technology - direct measurement of range or distance. It is in the light of these advances that the bulk of this book has been prepared. This handbook, therefore, is intended to complement the previously-published IR literature by bridging the gap between the historically-proven, well-documented technology and the advancing state of the art.