News

6 April 2010

 

Sofradir launches Altair MW–MW dual-band IR detector for missile warning systems

At this week’s SPIE Defense, Security and Sensing 2010 symposium in Orlando, FL, USA (5–9 April), Sofradir of Châtenay-Malabry, near Paris, France, which manufactures cooled infrared detectors based on mercury cadmium telluride (MCT/HgCdTe) for military, space and industrial applications, is launching the Altair MWIR–MWIR detector, which operates in the two mid-wave bandwidths 3–4µm and 4–5µm, allowing better identification of objects and hence reduction in the number of false threats identified. The dual-band MW–MW IR detector also enables more accurate temperature measurement of targets.

The Altair MWIR-MWIR first shipped in early January to a European customer. Production ramp-up is expected in mid 2011.

“With this new detector, Sofradir is providing higher-quality images for users of missile warning systems,” says Philippe Tribolet, VP R&D and technologies.

The key advantage of dual-band IR detectors is that users can choose the band most suited to conditions, such as high humidity, high temperatures etc, to detect and identify targets and threats in the mid-wave range using a single piece of equipment. Alternatively, they can fuse or compare the image of both bandwidths to improve target identification, for example, as the images will be naturally registered (i.e. the two color dots that make up each pixel are able to focus on the same location at the same time).

See related item:

Sofradir and Onera develop IR detector chip with integrated optics

Search: Sofradir Infrared detectors MCT/HgCdTe

Visit: www.sofradir.com