The 2026 MSS Parallel Conference is a parallel meeting of the MSS Specialty Group on Battlefield Survivability and Discrimination, the MSS Specialty Group on Detectors, the MSS Specialty Group on Materials, and the MSS Specialty Group on Passive Sensors.
MSS Specialty Group on Battlefield Survivability and Discrimination (BSD)
The Battlefield Survivability and Discrimination Specialty Group evolved from the MSS Specialty Group on Camouflage, Concealment, and Deception (CC&D) and focuses heavily on the survivability of both sea and battlefield platforms. It covers CC&D, Counter CC&D, Countermine, and IED Defeat topics. The meeting treats counter CC&D sensors including a heavy emphasis on Hyperspectral sensors. In addition, the human factor aspects of both detecting enemy assets and hiding US assets from the enemy are considered in depth.
MSS Specialty Group on Detectors
The MSS Specialty Group on Detectors is a forum for the presentation,
discussion, and dissemination of information on detector technology. It covers
the electromagnetic spectrum from x-rays through terahertz. The group addresses
all aspects of detector technology from basic detection mechanism through focal
plane array producibility and performance. Detector technologies of interest
include photodiode and photoconductor detectors, heterojunctions, barrier
structures, multicolor detectors, and uncooled thermal detector structures.
Detectors built in traditional II-VI and III-V compounds, detectors using
strained layer superlattice or quantum well material designs, and detectors
using surface structures to enhance photon collection are encouraged. This
meeting covers the reliability and survivability of Focal Plane Arrays against
laser and nuclear effects, the electronics and signal processing associated
with image formation such as readout circuit technology and on-focal-plane
signal processing, and issues related to detector manufacturing and affordability.
MSS Specialty Group on Materials
The MSS Specialty Group on Materials
provides a forum for the presentation, discussion, and dissemination of information
within the defense community on the exploration, development, and utilization
of detector and sensor materials to be used in military optical and electro-optical
devices and systems operating in the optical (ultraviolet to millimeter wave) spectrum.
Examples of such materials that are of interest are: infrared detector
materials such as strained layer superlattices, barrier incorporating photodetectors
(e.g. nBn), HgCdTe, InGaAs, InSb, lead salts, materials for uncooled detectors,
and alternate substrates for detector material growth. Physics models that
highlight detector limitations and suggest solutions through improvements in
material properties are also sought. Additional topics of interest are optical
materials for improved system performance for laser and radiation hardness as
well as eye / sensor protection.
MSS Specialty Group on Passive Sensors
The MSS Specialty Group on Passive Sensors provides a forum for
CLASSIFIED and controlled presentations, discussions, and dissemination of
information regarding developments in passive systems operating in the optical
(ultraviolet through millimeter wave) spectrum. The group focuses on systems
that exploit natural or man-made emanations from the target and scene. The
group addresses both tactical and strategic systems and considers all elements
that make up a system from the entrance aperture through to the decision
process, including any image processing that may be applied. The interest of
Passive Sensors covers ground-, vehicle-, air-, ship-, and space-based sensors;
sensors for threat detection, and for physical security; sensor hardening and
counter-countermeasures. Sensor functions include ISR, precision guidance,
remote sensing, including seekers for surface-2-surface, surface-2-air,
air-2-surface, air- 2-air application; sensors that support target detection,
recognition, and identification; sensors for situational awareness; sensors
that sense the environment to improve understanding of the phenomenology and
radiative transfer; sensors for foliage penetration and for terrain analysis;
sensors for A2 / AD environment; single-mode, multi-mode, multi-, and
hyper-spectral; human-system interaction; sensors for remote and for autonomous
operations; algorithms for meeting mission objectives, background clutter
mitigation, including AI / ML / DL; algorithms and hardware based techniques to
improve image quality such as super resolution, atmospheric compensation,
turbulence mitigation; day / night and all weather operations; synthetic scene
generation in all modalities; hardware-in-the-loop testing; new materials for
optics, windows, and domes. Technology
can be at developmental, experimental, or operational stage. The group is also
interested in papers describing the sensors’ end-user operational experience
and feedback