Morphological based target enhancement algorithms to counter the hostile nuclear environment

It is noted that a necessary requirement of a strategic defense system is the detection of incoming nuclear warheads in an environment that may include nuclear detonations of undetected or missed target warheads. A computer model is described which simulates incoming warheads as distant endoatmospheric targets. A model of the expected electromagnetic noise present in the nuclear environment is developed; predicted atmospheric effects are included. Various morphological-based image-enhancement algorithms are examined with regard to their ability to suppress the noise and atmospheric effects of the nuclear environment. These algorithms are then tested, using the combined target and noise models, and evaluated in terms of noise removal and the ability to resolve closely spaced targets.<>