Weapons
Optically based weapon systems rely on precision filters and coatings to assure repeatable and reliable results to the warfighter. Materion Barr Precision Optics & Thin Film Coatings filters are helping define next generation precision strike weapons including rockets, bombs and high energy laser.
Key Applications:
Precision Strike
As included in the latest Quadrennial Defense Review, specifications for missiles and bombs must include use in populated urban environments. Smaller, accurate strike is facilitated by Materion's equally precise and reliable filters and coatings. Materion is a major contributor to today’s precision weapons as well as those proposed in prototype and planning. New guided explosives must perform in close proximity to civilian populations and hit with pin point accuracy carrying a smaller explosive package. In other words, there is little or no margin for error. Among design challenges supported by Barr Precision Optics & Thin Film Coatings filters are:
- Minimize missed targets and unwanted collateral damage
- Hit moving target
An additional challenge is inclusion of all weather capability calling for a multisensor suite to overcome poor visibility due to rain, fog, dust, etc. This is facilitated through use of select bands in Millimeter, NIR, MWIR and LWIR regimes, a challenge met by including Materion Barr Precision Optics & Thin Film Coatings and our heritage in providing filters for fielded systems. Our coatings and filters can provide challenging multiband performance. Weapons technologies include, but are not limited to:
- Semiactive Laser (SAL)
- Heat seeker (NDIR)
- Imaging IR (I2R)
- Pattern recognition
High Energy
With the advent of the Missile Defense Agency and development of the Airborne Laser (ABL), Materion has once again answered the call providing optical coatings beyond what is available today. We are part of Team ABL and contributors to Beam Control and Fire Control systems. Large laser optics are very costly requiring high predictability in coating production. Their use includes coating high efficiency reflectors that minimize absorption and generate maximum system energy throughput.
The challenge answered by Barr was to provide unprecedented coatings calling for multi wavelength, reflectance >99% and demonstrated repeatable spectral and mechanical performance with durable thin films. Once Materion Barr Precision Optics & Thin Film Coatings was involved, coating specifications were met and then exceeded. The success of ABL design has spawned a new era in weaponry
Products & Services
Optical Filter Products:
- UV through LWIR Bandpass Filter
- Multibandpass filter
- Beamsplitter
- High Efficiency Reflector
- Single and multi notch filter
- Steep Edge Filter
- Rugate Filter
- Detector Windows (Visi-Lid)
Thin Film Products:
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