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A H L Fizeau was a French physicist. He was born in 1819 at Paris and died in 1896. In 1847, working with Jean Foucault, he showed that infrared radiation has the same properties as visible light, that is it is reflected, refracted and is capable of forming interference patterns. Then in 1849 he measured the speed of light using a toothed wheel to interrupt the light.
 Research A. H. L. Fizeau
The AGM-84E (SLAM) is the imaging infrared (IIR) variant of the AGM-84 (Harpoon) anti-ship missile. It was developed to provide precision strike from long standoff range against land and selective ship targets. SLAM uses many Harpoon components and the same logistics support system to maximise commonality and interoperability.
Research AGM-84E
The FIM-43a (Redeye) formerly the XMIM-43A is an American shoulder-fired infantry surface-to-air guided missile. The FIM-43a entered service in 1966 as a defence for troops against fast., low-flying aircraft. The FIM-43a is a 1206 mm long missile weighing 8.2 kg flies at a speed of mach 2.5 to a range of 2 miles using initial optical aiming and infrared homing guidance.
Research FIM-43a
The FIM-92a (Stinger) is an American man-portable shoulder-fired infantry air-defence missile. It was first used by British SAS troops in the Falklands conflict. The FIM-92a is a 1524 mm long missile powered by a solid propellant dual thrust rocket motor with a separable boost motor, that carries a 3 kg high explosive warhead and flies at a speed of mach 2 to a range of 5 km. It uses optical aiming and passive infrared homing guidance.
Research FIM-92a
FLIR (forward looking Infrared) is a device used on aircraft that reads the heat signatures of ground items and is optimised to show ground detail and large objects.
Research FLIR
The M48 (Chapparal) is an American forward area air-defence missile system. It launches surface-to-air missiles which use infrared homing to target heat emitter guidance. The missiles fly at a speed of mach 2.5 to a ceiling of 2,500 metres and a range of 4,800 metres.
Research M48
The Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) is a joint American and German all-weather, ship self-defence system designed to combat anti-ship missiles. It provides a lightweight, quick reaction, high firepower and low cost ship-defence capability.
The RAM Block 0 missile uses a wide field of view, radio frequency midcourse and a narrow field of view, infrared terminal guidance. Immediately after launch the RF seeker detects the target, guides the missile and points the IR seeker in the target' s direction, initiating the RF midcourse guidance. With the use of accurate IR terminal guidance, provided by the highly precise IR seeker and proportional navigation, the missile achieves a direct hit or an approach in the direct vicinity of the target. The wide RF field of view provides RAM with a 'shoot around the corner' capability for targets in the shadow of the ship's superstructure. Since RAM uses a passive guidance mode, it does not need any additional shipboard support after launch.
The ship sensors provide target data via the External Designation System (EDS) to the RAM GMWS. After target designation from the EDS, the launcher is directed to the firing position and the missiles are prepared and fired against the incoming targets with the priority provided by the EDS. Since its initial operational capability in 1993, RAM Block 0 has had successful intercepts in 113 of 117 production proofing and ship qualification test flights in both the United States and German Navies. The proliferation of passive ASCMs lead to the necessity to upgrade the RAM system.
The RAM Block I Infrared Mode Upgrade (IRMU) gives RAM the capability to engage RF-passive ASCMs by means of a jointly developed IR seeker and IR image acquisition technique. Block I development testing was successfully initiated aboard the USS Gunston Hall with two successful firings each of Block I and Block 0 missiles. Block I development testing continued aboard the unmanned, remotely controlled Self-Defence Test Ship (SDTS). The RAM Block I missile successfully intercepted an Exocet MM38, supersonic VANDAL and other Navy targets.
Research RAM
The Uhu (SdKfz 251/20) was a German half-track of the Second World War developed for use on the Eastern Front to provide illumination for night attacks for the panzer units. The Uhu was a variant of the SdKfz 251 manned by a crew of four, unarmed and carried an infrared searchlight.
Research Uhu
Infrared radiation (heat waves) consists of electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths shorter than those of the super-high-frequency radio waves and longer than 7600 angstroms - that is between about 0.75 and 1000 micro metres forming the radiation between the visible and microwave regions of the radiation spectrum.
Research Infrared
The IRAS (Infrared Astronomy Satellite) was a joint US-UK-Dutch satellite launched 1983 to survey the sky at infrared wavelengths, studying areas of star formation, distant galaxies, possible embryo planetary systems around other stars, and discovering five new comets in our own solar system. It operated for 10 months.
Research IRAS
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The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
©1993 - 2009 The Probert Encyclopaedia
Southampton, United Kingdom
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