High demand for infrared technology on battlefield.

• Author: Pappalardo, Joe
• Position: Upfront

Advances in manufacturing technology are allowing a new generation of infrared imaging devices to reach the battlefield in record numbers, according to military and industry sources.

Lighter materials and improved optics also have been instrumental in moving high performance and traditionally larger systems off vehicles and onto soldiers' weapons and handheld devices.

Second generation forward looking infrared (FLIR) sensors, with greater resolution and ability to penetrate sand and dust, have been installed on half the fleet of Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles, said Col. Mike Bowman, the Army's project manager for night vision, reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition.

"This is really a manufacturing breakthrough," Bowman said.

Infrared receptors require the growth of crystals, which is a difficult process that involves the use of a 'clean room' environment that is pure of all air particles or contaminants.

"They could only make these receptors in small quantities in the 1990s, and there was a lot of wasted materials," Bowman said. "Now they can mass produce them."

The ability of industry to produce advanced IR systems quickly is manifest in today's combat zones. One example is the long-range advanced surveillance sensor system (LRAS3) infrared system. Soldiers in Iraq equipped with the LRAS3 are able to see through the sand with enough details to positively identify targets, such as enemy tanks, he noted. "It gives the soldiers stand-off range a lot further than enemy systems."

The system will be adapted to be used by fire-support teams. By adding a laser designator to guide bean>riding munitions, a new tool for coordinating artillery has been created. Prototypes of the fire support sensor system (FS3) have been developed by the program executive office for intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors, Bowman said.

Also in the works in Bowman's shop is the 3rd generation LRAS3, to be tested in 2006. The next- generation systems will use receptors more liberally, display data on high-definition television screens and combine mid- and long-wave infrared beams.

"We're three years nut from fielding deployable hardware," Bowman said. "I feel it will be the mainstay for 2010 systems."

Infrared systems come in two forms, cooled and uncooled. A system with a mechanism for controlling heat is more sensitive to slight temperature variations.

Uncooled systems are portable, cheaper and have a shorter range. They are used as...