Optical imaging, including infrared imaging, generally has many important applications, both civilian and military. In recent years, technological advances have made multi- and hyperspectral imaging a viable technology in many demanding military application areas. The aim of the CEPA JP 8.10 program has been to evaluate the potential benefit of spectral imaging techniques in tactical military applications. This unclassified executive summary describes the activities in the program and outlines some of the results. More specific results are given in classified reports and presentations. The JP 8.10 program started in March 2002 and ended in February 2005. The participating nations were France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and United-Kingdom, each with a contribution of 2 man-years per year. Essential objectives of the program were to: 1) analyze the available spectral information in the optronic landscape from visible to infrared; 2) analyze the operational utility of multi- and hyperspectral imaging for detection, recognition and identification of targets, including low-signature targets; 3) identify applications where spectral imaging can provide a strong gain in performance; 4) propose technical recommendations of future spectral imaging systems and critical components. Finally, a stated objective of the JP 8.10 program is to "ensure the proper link with the image processing community". The presentation is organized as follows. In a first step, the two trials (Pirrene and Kvarn) are presented including a summary of the acquired optical properties of the different landscape materials and of the spectral images. Then, a phenomenology study is conducted analyzing the spectral behavior of the optical properties, understanding the signal at the sensor and, by processing spectroradiometric measurements evaluating the potential to discriminate spectral signatures. Cameo-Sim simulation software is presented including first validation results and the generation of spectral synthetic images. Results obtained on measured and synthetic images are shown and discussed with reference to two main classes of image processing tasks: anomaly detection and signature based target detection. Furthermore, preliminary works on band selection are also presented which aim to optimize the spectral configuration of an image sensor. Finally, the main conclusions of the WEAG program CEPA JP8.10 are give

Countermeasures against heat seeking missiles require access to efficient laser sources, which should emit wavelengths at band I, II and IV. Efficient diode pumped solid-state lasers, combined with efficient non-linear wavelength shifters, allow the development of practical tuneable mid-IR countermeasure sources. The paper describes the requirements and the development of a tabletop laser source for study of DIRCM techniques. Jamming laser systems must be able of creating pulse sequences in the frequency range between 100 Hz and 10,000 Hz, including the capability to mix and sweep the jam frequency. A Nd:YVO 4 pump laser with maximum pump power of 3 Watt and pulse length of 10 ns, and a maximum modulation frequency of 100 kHz was selected. A linear single resonant OPO cavity with 30 mm long, 1mm thick PPLN crystals was build. With the tabletop laser system we were able to generate wavelengths from 1.5 to 4 micron. In band I, at 2 micron we can generate between 400-550 mW, and in band II, from 3-4 micron we can generate 130-160 mW laser jam power. The beam quality (M 2 ) is approximately 2.5. The power efficiency for the idler was 8.8%, while the slope power efficiency was 15%. Jam patterns are generated by use of an acousto-optic modulator.

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Small maritime targets, e.g., periscope tubes, jet skies, swimmers and small boats, are potential threats for naval ships under many conditions, but are difficult to detect with current radar systems due to their limited radar cross section and the presence of sea clutter. On the other hand, applications of lidar systems have shown that the reflections from small targets are significantly stronger than reflections from the sea surface. As a result, dedicated lidar systems are potential tools for the detection of small maritime targets. A geometric approach is used to compare the diffuse reflection properties of cylinders and spheres with flat surfaces, which is used to estimate the maximum detectable range of such objects for a given lidar system. Experimental results using lasers operating at 1.06 µm and 1.57 µm confirm this theory and are discussed. Small buoys near Scheveningen harbor could be detected under adverse weather over more than 9 km. Extrapolation of these results indicates that small targets can be detected out to ranges of approximately 20 km.

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Laser countermeasures against infrared focal plane array cameras aim to saturate the full camera image. In this paper we will discuss the results of three different dazzling experiments performed with MWIR lasers and show that the obtained results are independent of the read-out mechanism of the camera and can be explained by an expression derived from the point spread function of the optics. This expression also allows us to estimate the required laser power to saturate a complete focal plane array in a camera system. Simulated Images with simulated dazzling effects based on this expression will be shown.