Broadband IR transparent rain and sand erosion protective coating for the AV8-B and GR-7 Harrier forward-looking infrared germanium window

Hugh G. Blackwell; Ewan M. Waddell; Desmond R. Gibson; P. McDermott

doi:10.1117/12.246837

19 August 1996 Broadband IR transparent rain and sand erosion protective coating for the AV8-B and GR-7 Harrier forward-looking infrared germanium window

Hugh G. Blackwell, Ewan M. Waddell, Desmond R. Gibson, P. McDermott

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2776, Developments in Optical Component Coatings; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.246837
Event: Optical Instrumentation and Systems Design, 1996, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Abstract

Pilkington Optronics (Barr and Stroud Ltd) has an ongoing development and pre-production activity for ultra-durable coatings. Such coatings provide enhancement of environmental durability of IR transmissive windows and domes on airborne platforms. This activity places particular emphasis on providing protection against rain and solid particle impact at airborne velocities. This program has produced a very effective rain and san d erosion protective, anti-reflective multilayer, based on boron phosphide overcoated with diamond like carbon (DLC/BP). This coating has been demonstrated on a range of IR materials: germanium, FLIR ZnS, TUFTRAN, silicon and gallium arsenide. This paper describes a pre- production program to coat the external, face of the AV-8B and GR-7 navigational FLIR germanium windows. Results are presented of optical and environmental performance. Moreover, results of extended flight trials are presented which utilize optical scatter, transmission reduction and coating obscuration to compare durability performance of DLC/BP as compared with DLC. These tests show a factor of at least ten increase in window lifetime through use of boron phosphide.

Citation Download Citation

Hugh G. Blackwell, Ewan M. Waddell, Desmond R. Gibson, and P. McDermott "Broadband IR transparent rain and sand erosion protective coating for the AV8-B and GR-7 Harrier forward-looking infrared germanium window", Proc. SPIE 2776, Developments in Optical Component Coatings, (19 August 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.246837

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