Abstract: A beam director subsystem and method for use in a weapons system. The beam director subsystem includes a source of electromagnetic radiation for generating a high energy laser (HEL) beam. The electromagnetic radiation is directed to a secondary mirror that reflects the electromagnetic radiation to a primary mirror for output of the HEL beam. The secondary mirror is generally curved and expands the electromagnetic radiation received from the source prior to outputting the HEL beam from the primary mirror. The subsystem further includes a track telescope coupled to the housing. The track telescope has a track detector configured to receive electromagnetic radiation originating from the HEL and electromagnetic radiation emitted from an illuminator and reflected from an airborne target.

Abstract: A beam director subsystem and method for use in a weapons system. The beam director subsystem includes a source of electromagnetic radiation for generating a high energy laser (HEL) beam. The electromagnetic radiation is directed to a secondary mirror that reflects the electromagnetic radiation to a primary mirror for output of the HEL beam. The secondary mirror is generally curved and expands the electromagnetic radiation received from the source prior to outputting the HEL beam from the primary mirror. The subsystem further includes a track telescope coupled to the housing. The track telescope has a track detector configured to receive electromagnetic radiation originating from the HEL and electromagnetic radiation emitted from an illuminator and reflected from an airborne target.

Abstract: A missile includes a fuselage with a roll axis and a nod axis perpendicular to the roll axis, and a conformal window mounted to a forward-facing end of the fuselage. There is a sensor system with a field of regard through the window and a line of sight, and a sensor system pointing mechanism affixed to the airframe and upon which the sensor system is supported. The sensor system pointing mechanism includes a gimbal structure having a first degree of rotational freedom about the roll axis and a second degree of rotational freedom about the nod axis, and a linear translational mechanism connected to the sensor system. The linear translational mechanism is operable to translate the sensor system away from the window with increasing angular deviation of the line of sight of the sensor system from the roll axis. Preferably, the translational mechanism is a slider-crank mechanism.

Abstract: A lens mount including a lens cell wherein a lens is mounted through flexures. The lens seat in the lens cell has a radius of curvature match-mated to the lens surface which rests upon it. The rotational symmetry axis of the lens seat is coincident with the axis of rotation of the lens cell. The optical axis of the second lens surface is coincident with the axis of rotation of the lens cell.

Abstract: A mirror mount wherein the mirror is mounted to the housing through tangent bars. The tangent bars have flexure cut-outs at each end thereof to allow the mirror to move relative to the housing. The housing is mounted through blade flexures to a support structure so as to allow the mirror to be translated along its optical axis.

Abstract: A mirror mounting apparatus which includes three tangent bars through which a mirror is mounted to a housing. One end of each of the tangent bars is mounted to the housing through a first spherical bearing while the second end of the tangent bar is mounted to the mirror through a second spherical bearing. The first spherical bearing has an axis perpendicular to the plane of the mirror. The second spherical bearing is oriented to have an axis perpendicular to both the axis of the first spherical bearing and to a line tangent to the point of attachment on the outer circumference of the mirror of the tangent bar.