A method of determining accurate range capability for multispectral infrared sensors using simple modeling techniques

The Multispectral Air-to-Air Inhouse Feasibility Study has been chartered to adapt the lessons learned from the Brassboard Airborne Multispectral Sensor System Specification (BAMS) program (contract F33615-93-C-1267) from the air-to-ground scenario to the air-to-air search and track scenario. This is an interim report in an investigation of the feasibility of air-to-air multispectral techniques that will generate the basis for a planned follow-on effort. The BAMS effort is developing the capability to detect ground targets in deep-hide and under camouflage by exploiting the spectral characteristics of the target. These same benefits should be adaptable for aerial search. This method of detection is more immune to low contrast or high clutter than a broadband sensor, and allows the use of larger pixels which translates into a much larger search volume. The downside is that the smaller wavebands inherent to multispectral sensors results in a smaller number of collected photons limiting the overall range capability. However, it is expected that multispectral sensors will have a distinct advantage over broadband sensors in the look-down scenario where the background is highly cluttered and the target is low contrast This scenario will be used for a direct comparison between the two sensor approaches. The methodology for determining the detection range capabilities for broadband and multispectral sensors is presented in this paper along with a summary of the approach for determining the expected performance of multispectral aerial search sensors.