The Belgian Air Force successfully carried out flight trials of the latest Low Light CCD focal plane technology during December of 2003. Simultaneous imaging of the ground was performed by conventional CCD, Infra Red Linescan and Low Light CCD reconnaissance sensors; provided and integrated by Thales within the Modular Reconnaissance Pod (MRP). This paper reports on the results and compares capability of the technologies.
The podded reconnaissance system has evolved significantly to keep pace with modern battlefield requirements. Through the use of new technologies; greater flexibility can be achieved in deployment options and response times in the intelligence reporting cycle can be reduced. The podded reconnaissance system architecture has evolved to a system of systems where both the manned and unmanned aerial reconnaissance systems can make use of the same fundamental building blocks.
Pushbroom Electro-Optic sensors have been developed and brought into full production, entering service in year 2000 on RAF Jaguar and Belgian Air Force F-16. The use of fiber- optic gyroscopes, closely coupled to the focal plane electronics, permits correction of all motion effects and provides practical high quality, stereo imagery at high V/H ratios. This paper describes technical features and samples of imagery from a scalable range of sensors incorporating focal lengths from 38mm to 900mm and operating throughout the full flight envelope of modern fighter aircraft.
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