This paper discusses a passive vibration isolation system which has been specifically developed to protect the optical system of a MWIR Missile Warning Sensor deployed on a Fighter Aircraft from high level random vibration. The concept of the designed system is to protect especially those components from the excitation of the aircraft which are most susceptible to vibration. This is achieved by isolating an optical unit, consisting of a group of lenses and a MWIR detector, by means of custom-designed, vulcanized elastomeric isolators, creating a Single Degree of Freedom Oscillator (SDoF). The capabilities of this passive vibration isolation system inside a MWIR Missile Warning Sensor are analyzed in terms of load reduction onto the MWIR detector, the effects of displacement between optical elements and the impact of the latter on optical performance, especially on line-of-sight stability and distortion of the very wide field-of-view.
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