Algorithms for the categorization and identification of IR military signatures

Military targets such as aircrafts and flares do not exhibit unique infrared signatures; their emissions are dominated by combustion products (mostly water vapor, carbon dioxide and hydrogen chloride) and hot metal greybody emissions. An algorithm has thus been developed to categorize target signatures based on their emission source components. The signatures are then partitioned, based on their emission components, into groups of similar emission characteristics. Using previous trial data, seven unique flare categories were defined. A second algorithm was finally developed to exploit this signature description and interrogate individual field measurements for target detection and categorization.