Test system for comprehensive evaluation of infrared-guided missiles

Electro-optically guided munitions, which include infrared (IR)-guided and laser-guided munitions, are the most widely used precision strike weapons on a variety of military platforms. To ensure 100% hit accuracy for these weapons, it is imperative that these are tested comprehensively at regular intervals. IR-guided missiles of the 1970s and 1980s used single colour IR seekers that respond to 3%5-%m band of the IR signatures of the target aircraft. State-of-the-art IR-guided missiles use two colour seekers that employ both 3%5- and 8%12-%m bands to offer improved false alarm rejection and greater immunity to deception by flares. This study presents a new design concept that can be used to build a test system capable of carrying out comprehensive characterisation of IR-guided missiles employing non-imaging type single colour or dual colour IR seekers. The study begins with a brief outline on the requirements of comprehensive characterisation and then discusses the proposed design concept along with its implementation in experimental hardware. The experimental hardware is evaluated by measuring different performance parameters. Test results obtained with prototype hardware are also presented in the study.