Testing and Evaluation of High Energy Portable Laser Source used as a Target Designator along with a Laser Seeker

  • Tutul Gogoi DRDO-Laser Science and Technology Centre, Delhi - 110 054
  • Rajni Kumar DRDO-Laser Science and Technology Centre, Delhi - 110 054
  • Joshua Anand Gladwin DRDO-Laser Science and Technology Centre, Delhi - 110 054
  • Vivek Goyal DRDO-Laser Science and Technology Centre, Delhi - 110 054
Keywords: Circular error probability, High energy portable laser source, Full width half maximum, Pulse repetition frequency, Inertial navigation system, Global positioning system, Laser guided bomb

Abstract

Precision guided munitions are often driven with the help of a special kind of laser beam, pointing onto the target of interest which can be a ground based stationary target or a moving one. The laser source which is popularly known as target designator is a key element in this and plays a vital role in performing any laser guided bombings. In this paper a testing methodology and evaluation technique is described for such a portable high energy laser source. The parameters of the designator are tested in laboratory environment as well as verified in field conditions. The measured and tested parameters are laser source energy, pulse repetition frequency, laser wavelength accuracy and pulse width. A laser guided bomb seeker is also used to test with and verify different designator parameters specially the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) in field conditions. The PRF is generally set in the seeker manually and the designators are fired onto a target for different PRFs and energy levels. If the PRF of the seeker matches with that of the designator then it locks onto the target and if different it does not. In this experiment one more designator is also fired onto a different target within the field of view of the seeker with the same parameters except the energy level. The seeker changes its position to the target having higher energy density provided pulses are within its detection window.

Author Biographies

Tutul Gogoi, DRDO-Laser Science and Technology Centre, Delhi - 110 054
Mr Tutul Gogoi obtained his graduation in Instrumentation Engineering from Assam Engineering College, Guwahati University, Assam in the year 2002. He is working as a Scientist since 2005 at DRDO-Laser Science and Technology Centre, Delhi, India. He has vast experience in the field of target acquisition sensor technologies for directed energy systems, laser based systems in battlefield applications and laser threat detection and counter measures for the protection of high value assets against laser guided munitions.
Rajni Kumar, DRDO-Laser Science and Technology Centre, Delhi - 110 054

Ms Rajni Kumar did her Diploma in Electronics and Communications from Board of Technical Education, Delhi. She is working as a Technical Officer at DRDO-Laser Science and Technology Centre, Delhi, India. She has more than 30 year of R & D experience in the development of laser based systems for electro optic counter measures applications, sensors for electro optically guided precision strike munitions, laser threat detection and counter measure system developments.

Joshua Anand Gladwin, DRDO-Laser Science and Technology Centre, Delhi - 110 054
Mr Joshua Anand Gladwin, is an Engineering Graduate from MITS Gwalior and MBA (IB) from IIFT New Delhi. His area of Interest is high speed imaging techniques for capturing ballistic events. Presently he is working with Laser Threat Detection and Counter Measures where his area of work is developing diffuse reflectance target for counter measure, mechanical hardware realisation, getting system environmental qualified and comprehensive field trials along with users.
Vivek Goyal, DRDO-Laser Science and Technology Centre, Delhi - 110 054
Mr Vivek Goyal is an Engineering Graduate from the prestigious Institution of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineers (IETE) India. Currently he is working as a Technical Officer at DRDO-Laser Science and Technology Centre, Delhi, India. He has more than 9 year of R&D experience in the development of laser systems for electro optic counter measure applications. He has also worked in sensor development for electro optically guided precision strike munitions and in laser threat detection and counter measures for the protection of high value assets.
Published
2018-09-12
How to Cite
Gogoi, T., Kumar, R., Gladwin, J., & Goyal, V. (2018). Testing and Evaluation of High Energy Portable Laser Source used as a Target Designator along with a Laser Seeker. Defence Science Journal, 68(5), 494-499. https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.68.12422
Section
Electronics & Communication Systems