TABLE OF CONTENTS This chapter defines the performance requirements for fiber optic (FO) components and devices for potential applications in military and space systems. Major emphasis will be placed on FO components best suited for military systems applications such as infrared missile, drones, phased array antennas, Transmit/Receive modules for deployment in missile defense radars, programmable optical delay lines for integration in electronic countermeasures (ECM) equipment, unmanned air vehicles, battlefield sensors, and laser tracking and illumination systems. In addition, state-of-the art requirements for the special FO devices will be briefly discussed, which will provide significant performance improvement in some critical military sensors. Such components or devices include fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), tunable dispersion compensators, fiber lasers, FO gyros and Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs).
Delay lines play a key role in the design and development of Range-Gate-Pull-Off (RGPO) systems. Note RGPO is known as a deceptive technique that provides effective ECM against terminal guidance seekers. This technique plays a critical role in countering the threats posed by hostile missiles to defensive and offensive weapon systems. When coupled with various angle tracking deception techniques, the RGPO technique can counter threats posed by both the CW and pulsed Doppler seekers. A variable or programmable delay line is the heart of a RGPO system as well as a critical element of the ECM equipment.
Potential delay line types and design parameters will be briefly discussed in terms of performance capabilities and...
