Decoy systems simulating jet aircraft plume emissions and strategies for suppression of emissions from missile plumes

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study covers the development of technology to be able to manufacture a flarethat can lure a modem state-of-the-art heat-seeking missile. Consequently it wasnecessary to characterize the exhaust plumes of certain fighter aircraft. Thischaracterization involved the spectral analyses of the aircraft plume emission overthe entire infrared region. The important influence that shock heating of C02 andN2 in the Mach discs of the plume has on theinfrared spectral emission, has beenrealised. Since shock heating is absent in normal flare designs, the effect of shockheating was simulated by chemical manipulations of the flare composition. Thisresulted in a flare which simulated the infrared emission spectrum of a jet aircraftplume.The inadequacy of the existing operational flare has been demonstrated by spectralanalysis. It has also been established that the pyrotechnical composition of thisflare is such that it cannot be manipulated to successfully simulate an aircraftplume.Secondly, the plumes of rocket motors were characterized. The propellantsamples of these motors were specially selected to be representative of currentlyused and nearly qualified propulsion systems. This study not only involved theinfrared and ultraviolet emissions of the plumes, but also at 30Hz in the RADARregion regarding transmission and RADAR cross-section measurements.The results of this study can be applied in the stealth environments of modemrockets and missiles. This technology can also be used in an in-flight identifying(friend or foe) role with respect to aircraft and missiles.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University