Infrared signature studies of aerospace vehicles

Infrared (IR) emissions from aircraft are used to detect, track, and lock-on to the target. MAN Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) have emerged as a major cause of aircraft and helicopter loss. Therefore, IR signature studies are important to counter this threat for survivability enhancement, and are an important aspect of stealth technology. This paper reviews contemporary developments in this discipline, with particular emphasis on IR signature prediction from aerospace vehicles. The role of atmosphere in IR signature analysis, and relation between IR signature level and target susceptibility are illustrated. Also, IR signature suppression systems and countermeasure techniques are discussed, to highlight their effectiveness and implications in terms of penalties.     

New criterion for aircraft susceptibility to infrared guided missiles

This paper assesses aircraft susceptibility from the first principles, with respect to the threat posed by passively guided infrared homing missiles; with an objective of gaining insight into the comprehensiveness of the relationship between aircraft susceptibility and aircraft infrared signature level. The conventional criterion of aircraft susceptibility assessment based on its lock-on envelop is found to be inadequate, and a new criterion termed here as the Lethal Envelop is presented. The proposed susceptibility assessment criterion is more relevant for coming generation of infrared-guided missiles, because of advancements in the infrared detection technology. A threshold infrared signature level is also proposed as benchmark to be satisfied by all infrared signature suppression systems; if aircraft susceptibility to infrared guided missiles is to be reduced. This analysis is vital for gauging the effectiveness of infrared signature suppression systems. A typical air-to-air combat situation is simulated, and the results that lead to aircraft susceptibility assessment are obtained from this model, which illustrates the comprehensiveness of the redefined aircraft susceptibility assessment approach.     

EXOSAT results on the X-ray burster 2S1254-690

EXOSAT observations of 2S1254-690 in August 1984 have confirmed the presence of periodic dips in the X-ray intensity. These dips occurred with a period of 3.9 hours and last for about 50 minutes. During individual dips the observed X-ray flux oscillated several times between the quiescent level and an undetectable level on time scales varying from a few seconds to approximately 5 minutes. In addition, a second type one burst has been observed, with characteristics which are very similar to those observed earlier. In this paper we report the results of a 20 hour EXOSAT observation made in 1984 August 6th to 7th, and discuss some properties of the dips and of the burst.affiliated to the Astrophysics Division, Space Science Department, ESA