The organization created Southern Research Technologies in 1988 as a subsidiary focusing on its technological developments such as its contributions to the FOG-M (fiber optic guided missile). The concept involved fiber optic cable spooling out of the back of the missile during flight, providing a television picture for the operator. It was the first time a TV camera was placed in the nose of a missile, with images beamed back for guidance.
Southern Research engineers developed a seeker head and a tracker device for the missile system.
By the time Southern Research Technologies was spun off, the organization’s engineers had performed work on missile programs for nearly three decades. In fact, Southern Research engineers Al Thomas and Bob Collins had developed a tracking device for the Maverick missile in 1962, leading to the development of many tracker and seeker systems by the organization.
Photo shows an infared source for aerial low targets developed by Southern Research.