The Department of Defense (DoD) seeks to develop a prototype with enhanced capability to provide 6 Degrees of Freedom (DOF) attitude data solution (absolute X,Y,Z position, pitch angle, yaw angle, roll) for man portable air defense systems (MANPADS) or track mounted infrared (IR) guided missile while in flight from launch point (0 meters downrange) to a stationary target point against the natural test area background. This solution will also include the corresponding pitch angle and yaw angle of the missile plume.

MANPADS employing infrared seekers are the single biggest threat facing slow-moving, low-flying rotary wing and fixed wing platforms. To counter the prevalent MANPADS and related track mounted IR guided missile threat, the Services are developing autonomous infrared countermeasure (IRCM) systems for installation on several helicopter platforms as well as large aircraft platforms. Advances in ground truth data collection are needed to improve the modeling and simulation of MANPADS and other threats - missile attitude being the most critical need.