Defence Technology

Defence Technology

Volume 17, Issue 5, October 2021, Pages 1636-1649
Defence Technology

Electronic warfare in the optical band: Main features, examples and selected measurement data

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dt.2020.09.007Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Highlights

  • Main features and nomenclature of battlefield optical signatures were systematized.

  • Selected measurements of characteristic spectral and temporal signatures were performed.

  • Model data base for recognition and counteraction in the optical band was proposed.

Abstract

The paper presents the possibilities of, and methods for, acquiring, analysing and processing optical signals in order to recognise, identify and counteract threats on the contemporary battleground. The main ways electronic warfare is waged in the optical band of the electromagnetic wave spectrum have been formulated, including the acquisition of optical emitter signatures, as well as ultraviolet (UV) and thermal (IR) signatures. The physical parameters and values describing the emission of laser radiation are discussed, including their importance in terms of creating optical signatures. Moreover, it has been shown that in the transformation of optical signals into signatures, only their spectral and temporal parameters can be applied. This was confirmed in experimental part of the paper, which includes our own measurements of spectral and temporal emission characteristics for three types of binocular laser rangefinders. It has been further shown that through simple registration and quick analysis involving comparison of emission time parameters in the case of UV signatures in “solar-blind” band, various events can be identified quickly and faultlessly. The same is true for IR signatures, where the amplitudes of the recorded signal for several wavelengths are compared. This was confirmed experimentally for UV signatures by registering and then analyzing signals from several events during military exercises at a training ground, namely Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launches and explosions after hitting targets, trinitrotoluene (TNT) explosions, firing armour-piercing, fin-stabilised, discarding sabots (APFSDS) or high explosive (HE) projectiles. The final section describes a proposed model database of emitters, created as a result of analysing and transforming the recorded signals into optical signatures.

Keywords

Optoelectronics
Electronic warfare
Optical signature

Abbreviations

RPG
Rocket Propelled Grenade
TNT
trinitrotoluene
APFSDS
armour-piercing, fin-stabilised, discarding sabot
HE
high explosion projectiles
RWR and LWR
radar and laser warning receivers, respectively
IFV
infantry fighting vehicle
MICV
mechanised infantry combat vehicle
CCD
charge coupled device
MWIR and LWIR
mid-wavelength and long-wavelength infrared radiation
FOV
field of view
LIDAR
light detection and ranging
SNR
signal to noise ratio
FWHM
full width half minimum (signal)
CW
continuous wave (emission)
PRI
pulse repetition interval

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Peer review under responsibility of China Ordnance Society