Method and apparatus for infrared detection of a moving target in the presence of solar clutter

A detection system for detecting a target flying over water, which includes a detector positioned to receive radiation reflected by the target off the water, and producing a detector output signal having an amplitude proportional to the amount of received radiation, a high-pass filter for passing portions of the detector output signal having a frequency greater than a prescribed threshold frequency, and for blocking portions of the detector output signal having a frequency lower than the prescribed threshold frequency. The prescribed threshold frequency is sufficiently high to ensure that only the portions of the detector output signal produced by the radiation reflected by the target off the water are passed by the high-pass filter, and that portions of the detector output signal produced by solar glitter are not passed. In a specific embodiment, the system is designed to be installed on a ship for the purpose of detecting low-flying, fast-moving targets, such as cruise missiles.