Development and demonstration of the SOFRADIR 480 x 4 infrared FPA for the LOSAT second-generation FLIR

High resolution second generation infrared focal plane arrays (FPAs) are not yet fully mature. However, 480 X 4 infrared FPAs have been designed, developed, and demonstrated for the U.S. Army Line-of-Sight Antitank (LOSAT) Weapon System. The infrared FPAs were developed on schedule and in budget by Sofradir (Grenoble, France) by taking a low risk approach based upon the technology incorporated into their 288 X 4 production infrared FPAs. First pass processor success was achieved on the silicon readout integrated circuit, and concurrent engineering was used to optimize the infrared FPA for the particular requirements of the LOSAT program. The success of the 480 X 4 development has resulted in the availability of a high resolution infrared FPA that can now be produced for incorporation into forward looking infrared systems.