| Acquisition Program: | |
Objective: | To develop a bi-spectral smoke/obscurant material that will obscure in the visible and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. This material will form an obscuring screen for the protection of soldiers and platforms against visible and infrared threats (heat seeking missiles, thermal viewer, laser guided missiles, sniper fire, etc.).
| Description: | In the history of smoke and obscuration in the US military, there has not been any development of an obscuring material that would work in both the visible and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The military uses separate munitions for each region of the spectrum; for the visible region, we use the L8 grenade, AN HC grenade, titanium dioxide hand grenade and the M76 smoke generator, for the infrared region, we use the M76 launched grenade. There are many scenarios where having one type of munition for both the visible and infrared regions is desirable. Bi-spectral capabilities are preferred by the Infantry School and are endorsed by the Joint Program Manager (JPM) Reconnaissance and Platform Integration. Bi-spectral efforts are in development in foreign countries (United Kingdom and France). The United States Army has been actively pursing a bi-spectral material to replace its existing payload material (JPM Reconnaissance & Platform Integration and JPM Close Combat Systems). The material should be effective in both the visible and infrared regions, with an extinction coefficient value (a measure of the screening/obscuring performance) equal or greater than that for the current material, which is 5 m2/g.
| | PHASE I: During Phase I, new and advanced materials will be developed. Intensive chemistry and material science will be needed to fabricate an effective material. Updated technologies and breakthroughs in vapor phase synthesis and nanotechnology may assist in developing a successful material. Material samples (approximately 50 grams) will be provided to the US Army for evaluation in an aerosol test chamber. The screening performance/ extinction coefficient will be measured and, based on the results, several candidate materials will be transitioned to Phase II. The objective of Phase I is to find or develop several high performing bi-spectral materials.
| | PHASE II: The objective of Phase II will be to obtain the material from Phase I and develop the material in a production scale, load the materials in munitions, and test in a controlled and real life environment.
| | PHASE III: The technology developed in this STTR will fill requirements set by the US Army for improved obscuration materials for use in grenades, mortars, and generators.
| References: | 1. Dr. Janon Embury, “Maximizing Infrared Extinction Coefficients for Metal Discs, Rods, and Sphere", ECBC -TR-226, February 2002.
2. Batishko, C.R. ; Craig, R.A. ; Stahl, K.A. ; Salomon, L.L. ; Bodrero, D., “An infrared simulator for testing electro-optical systems against smoke and obscurants”, PNL-SA-15738;CONF-880489-1, January 1988.
3. Richard E. Hayes & Ronald C. Passmore, “Perspective on Multispectral Missile Seekers”, GACIAC Bulletin Volume 19 No. 2, June 1996.
| | Keywords: | obscuration, infrared screening, visible smokes
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