Ballistic Missile Program BMP3-S

Weapons systems utilizing infrared sensors require IR sources to be presented in the correct locations on the target with the correct radiance so the user weapon system can detect, recognize, acquire, track, and hit the target using terminal maneuvers to strike the target. Imaging IR sensors approach the resolution of visible wavelength imaging sensors and require a target of the correct shape with sources in the correct locations. The approach used for obtaining the correct infrared signature consisted of matching the thermal mass and routing the existing heating and cooling sources. Thermal mass matching was accomplished by using thinner steel for aluminum and water tanks for thicker metals. Experiments have shown that the surface temperature of the water tanks closely matches the temperature of the solid metal armor over the diurnal cycle. Hence, the IR signature should be present in correct proportion to the total signature and background across the diurnal cycle. Intake and exhaust air were rer outed to achieve proper heating and cooling distributions.