Multi-level laser illuminator

Abstract

An improved laser illuminator for target designation, such as for a target-seeking missile or object in flight or from a tracking target station, that simultaneously provides output pulses of high peak power at a low pulse repetition rate to meet the maximum range requirements of the designation or tracking system and provides output pulses of low peak power at a high pulse repetition rate to provide the high tracking error signal information rates needed at close ranges. The illuminator operates either for active or semi-active guidance of a missile to a target or for tracking an object or target from any suitable station in either an active or semi-active mode. In one arrangement in accordance with the invention, a laser oscillator is controlled in series with an amplifier arrangement to selectively provide the high power and the low power pulses which are transmitted as a common pulse train. In another arrangement in accordance with the invention, dual oscillators are provided in parallel to develop the low power and the high power pulses. The illuminator operates with a relatively small average power and thermal dissipation and as a consequence, has relatively small size and weight requirements for any given level of overall performance.