METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RECOGNIZING TARGETS AT LONG RANGES

An improved method and system (30) for recognizing targets (16) at long-ranges permits target recognition at or near the ranges at which the targets are initially detected. The method includes the steps of detecting (32) the target (16) relative to a sensor platform (12), and, in response to the detection, determining a set of range parameters (40) from the sensor platform (12) to the target (16). After transferring the set of range parameters to a gated television sensor (44) that serves as an imaging device, the method next involves illuminating the target area associated with the range parameters with a laser pulse (42) to generate reflected energy (48) from the target (16). The reflected energy (48) is then highly magnified and imaged (46) using the gated television sensor (44). The image (46) may be sent to an automatic target recognizor system (70) or displayed for operator recognition (72).