Program Element: 0603217C Project Number: 1302

PE Title: Ballistic Missile Defense (U) Budget Activity: 03

Adv Technology Dev (U)

February 1994

A. (U) RESOURCES: ($ in Thousands)

Project Title: Chemical Laser Technology

FY1993 FY1994 FY1995 FY1996 FY1997 FY1998 FY1999 Total

Program Name: Actual Estimate Estimate Estimate Estimate Estimate Estimate Program

0603217C RDT&E 69,164 54,269 77,500 77,500 77,500 77,500 77,500 Continuing

B. (U) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MISSION REQUIREMENT AND SYSTEM CAPABILITIES:

The Chemical Laser (CL) program is developing high leverage high energy laser (HEL) technologies for future ballistic missile defense against an evolving, proliferating threat. The program is composed of a ground integration/demonstration of HEL components developed by BMDO over the past decade as well as the development of advanced HEL technologies. Since the formation of BMDO, the CL program has served as a national focal point for the development of HEL technologies, currently serving as a springboard for emerging Service programs for air- (USAF), ground- (USA), and sea- (USN) based HEL programs. However, the highest leverage basing of this technology, under development since the formation of BMDO, is the space-based laser.

(U) The space-based laser (SBL) is the only major U.S. technology under development that can provide global, 24-hour, early-boost-phase intercept (BPI) of both theater and strategic ballistic missiles. Early BPI negates ballistic missiles before they can multiply into tens or hundreds of targets through the early release of chemical, biological, or nuclear munitions. Early BPI also serves as a powerful deterrent, as debris falls far from defended territory, often back on the attackers. Finally, boost phase intercept will allow affordable defenses as the range of available ballistic missiles increases, allowing the defense to concentrate on the aggressor, rather than trying to defend all of the potential targets within his range with terminal defensive systems.

(U) Critical technical issues for the SBL element can be grouped into five areas: the laser device; beam control; optics; acquisition, tracking, pointing and fire control (ATP/FC); and high power integration. The laser or beam generating device is a hydrogen fluoride (HF) chemical laser which produces the high power laser beam by photon extraction from excited HF molecules, generated by the energetic reaction of hydrogen and fluorine. In multiple tests from 1990 through 1993, the Alpha HF laser demonstrated near-weapon-level continuous-wave operation. The Alpha design is space compatible and directly scalable to weapon-level power requirements. Required beam control technology was demonstrated by the LODE program in 1987. Required optical technology can be subdivided into two classes: small high-incident-intensity optics for handling the high power beam within the SBL and large moderate-incident-intensity optics for directing the expanded high power beam toward the target. Required small high-incident-intensity optics have been demonstrated in a number of SBL programs, including Alpha. The LAMP program, completed in 1989, demonstrated a 4-meter diameter beam director primary mirror whose design is space-compatible and directly scalable to weapon size. ATP/FC technology is being developed in Project 1305 and has made excellent progress toward developing the technology to meet SBL ATP/FC requirements. High power integration is being demonstrated in the Alpha & LAMP Integration (ALI) program. In ALI, the Alpha, LODE, and LAMP hardware and technologies are being integrated for ground demonstration of an SBL high power beam train in FY96. In parallel, a number of efforts are developing additional promising technologies with the potential for significant cost, weight, and/or brightness improvement. These efforts include continued development of very-low-absorbance optical coatings and mirror substrates which allow high power optics to be uncooled (ultralightweight), shorter wavelength lasers that may achieve equivalent range performance with a smaller diameter beam director mirror (HF overtone), molecular (rather than mechanical) methods for compensation of beam aberrations to produce the required beam quality (Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS) phase conjugation), and manufacturing techniques for improving the producibility and decreasing the cost of large optics (Large Optical Segment (LOS) Program).

(U) After the completion of ALI, the ALI hardware and designs will be repackaged into an operational configuration. A conceptual design and program plan for this demonstration, named Star LITE, has already been developed. In Star LITE, ALI hardware and designs are repackaged, mated with an ATP suite, and ground tested. Upon completion, an option can be executed to mate Star LITE with a launch vehicle for a space demonstration of the weapon-scalable Star LITE SBL against simulated ballistic missiles targets. Completion of the Star LITE experiment will demonstrate the readiness of the SBL for a decision on the development of a full scale prototype. With additional Chemical Laser funding, an initial operational capability for the SBL could be achieved by the middle of the next decade.

(U) This project is assigned to the Budget Activity and Program Element codes as identified in this descriptive summary in accordance with existing Department of Defense policy. Further justification of the Budget Activity code assigned to each Program Element is contained within the Brief Description of Element section of each Program Element Summary.

C. (U) PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PLANS:

(U) FY 1993 Accomplishments:

o ($37.771M) Continued fabrication and delivery of ALI experiment hardware and facility

o ($10.570M) Demonstrated high power performance of an uncooled optic in the Alpha resonator; demonstrated enhanced Alpha performance

o ($5.160M) Completed fabrication of SBS non-linear optics demonstration cell (Oct 93)

o ($3.009M) Began fabrication of first full-scale advanced HF-overtone laser nozzle module

o ($2.450M) Completed fabrication of first LOS 4-meter mirror facesheet (outer petal facesheet of space compatible 11 meter diameter mirror)

o ($4.200M) Demonstrated the fabrication of subscale uncooled annular mirror for uncooled resonator

o ($4.018M) Completed/continued numerous small advanced technology research/demonstration efforts including alternate HF chemical laser fuels and ignition technologies, SBL simulation and performance analyses, and transfer of SBL optical technology to astronomical community

o ($1.800M) Completed preliminary design for autonomous beam control system alignment demonstration

o ($0.186M) Completed study of Army tactical uses of chemical laser technologies

(U) FY 1994 Plans:

o ($31.119M) Continue fabrication and delivery of ALI experiment hardware; bring ALI facility to beneficial occupancy status

o ($10.250M) Modify Alpha for interface with ALI; demonstrate high power operation of modified Alpha

o ($2.600M) Perform fluid dynamic testing of the SBS cell

o ($2.000M) Complete fabrication and testing of first advanced HF-overtone laser nozzle module

o ($3.550M) Complete/continue numerous small advanced technology research/demonstration efforts including beam expander repointing/stabilization technology, small scale autonomous alignment risk reduction, HF laser master oscillator/power amplifier (MOPA) measurements, HF laser line-selection measurements, and application of neural net technology to precise pointing and disturbance rejection

o ($1.600M) Complete fabrication of second LOS 4-meter mirror facesheet (center petal facesheet of space compatible 11 meter diameter mirror)

o ($2.740M) Continue development of advanced optical coatings for uncooled optics; Demonstrate all fabrication technologies for full scale annular resonator optic substrate (including diamond turning across fused single crystal silicon bond joints)

o ($0.410M) Begin modification of the Advanced Beam Control System brassboard for autonomous beam control system alignment demonstration

(U) FY 1995 Plans:

o ($43.730M) Integrate ALI hardware and begin subsystem testing

o ($10.750M) Develop the technology and demonstrate autonomous alignment of the Alpha resonator; complete final modifications of Alpha for ALI

o ($4.700M) Design, fabricate and install optics for the SBS demonstration

o ($4.100M) Begin fabrication of remaining HF-overtone laser nozzle modules

o ($1.700M) Restart preliminary design for ground Star LITE demonstration; establish test facility requirements

o ($3.700M) Begin fabrication of full scale uncooled resonator for Alpha/Star LITE

o ($2.100M) Begin design and fabrication of 4 meter monolithic primary mirror for Star LITE

o ($2.000M) Complete modification of the Advanced Beam Control System brassboard for autonomous beam control system alignment demonstration

o ($4.720M) Complete/continue numerous small advanced technology research/demonstration efforts

(U) Program Plan to Completion: This is a continuing program.

D. (U) WORK PERFORMED BY:

o Hughes Danbury Optical Systems - Danbury CT

o Litton-Itek - Lexington, MA

o Martin Marietta - Denver, CO

o Lockheed Missiles & Space Corp. - Sunnyvale, CA

o TRW - Redondo Beach, CA

E. (U) COMPARISON WITH FY 1994 DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

1. TECHNICAL CHANGES: None.

2. SCHEDULE CHANGES: None.

3. COST CHANGES: Funding reductions from prior plans continue to produce schedule slippage in all chemical laser efforts.

F. (U) PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION:

o Numerous technical reports documenting scientific analyses, hardware designs, and experimental results and assessments.

G. (U) RELATED ACTIVITIES:

o 1301 Free Electron Laser PE No. 0603217C

o 1305 Target Acquisition, Tracking and Pointing PE No. 0603217C

o 1307 Advanced Directed Energy Demonstrations PE No. 0603217C

There is no unnecessary duplication of effort within BMDO or the DoD.

H. (U) OTHER APPROPRIATION FUNDS: None

I. (U) INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS: None

J. (U) MILESTONE SCHEDULE:

o ALI Facility Beneficial Occupancy 4Q FY 94

o Complete fabrication of second 4-meter LOS facesheet for an 11-meter mirror 4Q FY 94

o Integrate ALI hardware and begin subsystem testing 4Q FY 95

o ALI High Power Demonstration 3Q FY 96

o Continuous wave SBS Demonstration 4Q FY 96

o Autonomous Beam Train Alignment Demonstration 4Q FY 96

o High Power HF-Overtone Demonstration 2Q FY 97