ARETE ASSOCIATES — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF151-107

Description

ABSTRACT:Aret proposes a high performance laser radar system based on COTS components that can classify identify airborne threats at ranges of 100s of km. Based on our Coded Aperture Ladar technology, sub-diffraction limited images are resolved at extreme ranges using tomographic target reconstruction. This Phase 1 program models and demonstrates enhancements to our transceiver technology increasing range while decreasing detectability. A partnership with a prime contractor leverages airborne test platforms for field demonstrations in future phases.BENEFIT:The ladar concepts and hardware developed in this program have a wide range of relatively near-term and potentially low-cost military (tactical, theater and strategic) and other (surveillance/homeland security) applications. Tactical and surveillance adaptations would be the largest potential near-term markets. We believe that our approach could be readily and cost effectively adapted to fielding of compact laser radars, coded covert (free-space-optics) line-of-sight communications and covert laser designators and serve as high-accuracy optical trackers for engaging tactical (rockets, mortars and artillery-RAM) targets; RAMs are currently major threats to the US and its allies in the context of theater and urban warfare.