The National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC) has the mission to produce and disseminate all-source integrated intelligence of foreign ground forces and equipment to ensure that U.S. forces have a decisive edge on any battlefield. The NGIC provides the best signatures available on foreign ground force systems within requested wavebands and defined scenarios through field measurements, predictive codes, or scaled models. The Simulated InfraRed Earth Environment Lab (SIREEL) leverages this expertise to make geometric models and real and simulated IR signatures available in a variety of formats to a wide range of customers from acquisition and material developers to operational forces, including those involved in Homeland Defense and Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

The key feature of SIREEL is a process in which infrared measurements and predictive models are used to produce infrared signatures of threat vehicles and scenes. Through simulations and field collections the NGIC can generate the infrared signature of any system, at any time, in any operating condition, at any location. SIREEL has available dozens of high fidelity signature models that are accessible through Internet, SIPRNET, and JWICS websites. Current simulation efforts include continued modeling of basic weapon chassis as well as systems under netting, coated with IR reflective paints, and with modifications such as skirting and reactive armor. Future areas of development involve simulated gun flash to enable identification of the firing weapon system, interactive plume modeling, and higher fidelity system-scene integration. This paper will discuss the process and tools developed for the program. These include CAD model development tools and techniques; mesh application, IR codes, and dissemination methodologies.