DoD requires improved or new capabilities in strategic and tactical missile defense, cruise missile defense, satellite negation, high-resolution imagery, air defense, ship defense, ground combat and close support, and aircraft self-protection. All of these requirements can be addressed by laser weapon systems. Laser and optical system technology offers the potential for a paradigm shift in weapon systems for the 21st century:
These advantages will provide dramatic improvements in current weapon capabilities and enable new missions that are not currently possible. Within the next 5 years, this includes transition of semiconductor laser technology to nonlethal weapons (illumination, designation, dazzling) and medical laser applications. After the turn of the century, potential new weapon capabilities include the airborne laser (ABL) for boost-phase negation of theater and cruise missiles at long range; ground-based laser (GBL) for negation of LEO satellites; space-based laser (SBL) for theater/ national missile defense, ASAT, surveillance, target designation, and active and passive target discrimination; moderate-power laser systems for robust infrared countermeasures; passive and active laser/optical systems for remote sensing/standoff detection; laser weapons for antiship missile defense; and laser weapons for platform/base self-protection and offensive capabilities in tactical engagements.
3.8.2.1 Goals and Timeframes. Technology development and demonstration efforts are oriented to establish a mature and comprehensive technology base to support laser weapon systems development decisions. In many cases, this requires an integrated demonstration of laser and optical technology components and subsystems. Major goals and associated timeframes are listed in Table X-9.
| Application/Mission | Short Term (1-2 Years) | Mid Term (3-5 Years) | Long Term (6+ Years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABL for boost-phase negation of theater missiles at long range (up to 600 km) | COIL device, atmospheric measurements, adaptive optics, and beam control technology to support ABL demonstrator development. | Demo adaptive optics and beam control technology to ensure ABL design meets operational performance requirements; identify and begin development/test of promising advanced technology concepts. | Advanced COIL, adaptive optics, and beam control technology to provide 20-30% increase in ABL operational range. |
| GBL for negation of LEO satellites | COIL device technology at baseline levels; feasibility demos of adaptive optics for atmospheric compensation and active satellite tracking. | Integrated beam control demo/full-scale demo of weapons-class perform-ance for all atmospheric compensation and beam control functions. | Advanced COIL, adaptive optics, and beam control technology to support design optimization and performance growth for GBL ASAT system development. |
| SBL for TMD, NMD, ASAT, surveillance, target des-ignation, and active and passive target discrimination | Demo integrated beam director, beam control, and laser resonator. Ground demo acquisition, tracking technology. | Demo uncooled laser resonator optics. Fly acquisition, tracking experiment. Demo high-efficiency laser nozzles. Demo CW high-power phase conjugation. | SBL readiness demonstrator. |
| Laser system for IR countermeasures, based on damage/destroy mechanisms | Establish vulnerability of target set; demo laser device feasibility and scaling for selected wavelength. | Ground demo of integrated laser system performance against IR-guided missile hardware in realistic scenarios. | |
| Laser weapons for anti-ship missile defense | Evaluate target lethality & utility of various laser concepts for ASMD. Demo 1-kW FEL. | ||
| Semiconductor/solid-state laser sources and integrated beam control | Transition semiconductor laser technology to non-lethal and medical applications. | Demo architecture for scaleable, coherent semi- conductor laser diode arrays; demo concept for electronic beam steering. | Demo coherent array scaling to moderate and high power; establish feasibility of conformal arrays and integrated laser source/beam control. |
Major technical challenges being addressed in beam control efforts include development and demonstration of adaptive optics hardware to compensate for distortions in the beam train and in propagation to the target, application of laser beacon concepts to sense distortions caused by atmospheric turbulence, rejection of high-bandwidth jitter induced by platform and atmospheric turbulence, compensation for tilt anisoplanatism, active tracking and illuminator/target effects, aimpoint designation and maintenance, and overall beam control system integration and performance evaluation.
In the area of laser effects, the major technical challenge addressed is determining the materials, configuration, functional characteristics, and vulnerability of potential targets. To assess the payoff of specific applications and to support system development decisions, a significant challenge is the development of modeling and simulation tools to determine weapon system performance and military effectiveness. Finally, an important challenge for the operational application of laser systems is to establish accurate safety thresholds for the protection of personnel.
3.8.2.3 Related Federal and Private Sector Efforts. DoD organizations have primary responsibility for development and application of high-power laser technology. However, there is some complementary activity within DOE and industry. Lawrence Livermore and Sandia National Laboratories have laser source development and some beam control programs, with emphasis on laser fusion (Livermore) and power beaming (Sandia) applications. The Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Newport News, VA, is developing an industry consortium of potential users and a materials test facility to use the Navy-funded 1-kW IR free electron laser (FEL).
As a direct spinoff of DoD research, the civilian astronomy community has embraced adaptive optics and laser beacon sensing technology to improve resolution of ground-based telescopes by compensating for distortions introduced by atmospheric turbulence.
There are also related DoD efforts that support the DEW S&T effort. In FY97 the Army and DARPA will complete their joint Diode-Array Pumped Kilowatt Laser (DAPKL) program. This laser is a candidate for target illumination to support DEW lasers.
The joint U.S./Israeli Tactical High-Energy Laser (THEL) ACTD, although not an S&T demonstration, will provide useful information to the S&T technology efforts. The THEL offers a cost-effective, speed-of-light, continuous-kill capability against multiple, low-signature, maneuvering tactical threats.
High-energy laser effectiveness tests have demonstrated significant capability against the evolving air threat, using realistic targets and timelines. The High-Energy Laser System Test Facility (HELSTF) is funded through Army T&E (6.5). It has been used by all services to conduct high-power S&T experiments and demonstrations in support of their individual programs. HELSTF operates and maintains DoD's only integrated, open-range HEL test bed.
3.8.3.1 Technology Demonstrations. Laser DEW technology development encompasses several demonstrations, intended to establish a level of technology maturity that supports transition to systems development programs. Major demonstrations support five DTOs:
3.8.3.2 Technology Development. Technology development efforts complement the technology demonstration efforts described above to fully support laser weapon system development decisions and to lay the foundations for future demonstration efforts to address longer term military applications and capabilities. Major task areas include:
3.8.3.3 Basic Research. Basic research efforts for high-power lasers emphasize the fundamental understanding of the limitations of laser technology and its application and the investigation of promising new approaches and concepts. Efforts are conducted in advanced laser concepts, nonlinear optics, optical image sensing and reconstruction, optical tomography of turbulent flow fields, and advanced concepts for adaptive optics and laser beacon sensing.
