High Energy Laser Weapons Systems Applications - The Black Vault

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In addition to the potential of high-energy lasers against moderately hard targets, several of the laser systems in development or under consideration could have the potential for lethal precision engagement against classes of soft targets, to include personnel and light vehicles. Hence, high-energy lasers hold the potential for precision attacks with precision effects to include lethal precision engagement that surpasses anything available in kinetic weapons. While there are a number of pacing technologies, the most basic remains the high-energy laser itself. THE TASK FORCE CHARTER High-energy laser systems provide the Department with unique opportunities to augment or improve operational capabilities and tactics in a variety of mission areas. In order for the Department to effectively incorporate HEL weapon systems into warfighting operations at the earliest possible opportunity, the Department initiated the Defense Science Board Task Force on High Energy Laser Weapon Systems Application. 1 The task force was asked to: • Review current programs in HEL applications. • Examine recent supporting technology advancements and their applications with respect to supporting military HEL weapon system developments. • Develop potential military tactical and strategic HEL system applications and identify processes required to implement these potentials. • Determine what remains to be done to “weaponize” these systems, including measures needed to allow them to operate and be supported in applicable combat theater environments. • Assess HEL operational concepts, impacts, and limitations, considering legal, treaty, and policy issues concerning HEL employment. 2 1 Appendix A contains the complete Terms of Reference for the Defense Science Board Task Force on High Energy Laser Weapon Systems Applications. 2 The task force spent considerable time on understanding the legal, treaty, and policy issues related to the employment of HEL systems but concluded that our understanding did not contribute enough to warrant inclusion in this report. vi
In addition, the task force was asked to make recommendations on: • Needed additional research efforts that are not currently being addressed by the Department. These recommendations should encompass supporting technologies that enable military HEL applications. • Potential strategic and tactical impact of HEL systems on future military operations compared to use of current systems. • Capabilities of the U.S. defense industrial base to support development of HEL systems. • Transition paths or roadmap for HEL weapons development and military applications. SCOPE OF THE TASK FORCE WORK Over the course of eight months, the task force reviewed the progress of HEL initiatives and activities and examined the potential of high-energy lasers for a wide variety of missions using a wide variety of platforms. 3 The potential missions for HEL systems include ballistic missile defense, air defense, attack against ground and maritime targets, space control, and urban operations. The platforms include large aircraft, tactical aircraft including helicopters, ground vehicles, fixed ground sites, and spacecraft. The task force heard briefings from the many communities engaged in the development of high-energy laser systems, subsystems and technologies. 4 These communities included commercial industry, government and private laboratories, Service program offices, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The task force also talked to representatives of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) involved in HEL-related activities. The task force examined ongoing initiatives and new applications for HEL systems. It examined the major issues confronting the development of HEL technologies and their transition into operational systems. The task force placed a great deal of emphasis on understanding the state of science and technology research and on identifying those areas of research offering the most promise in advancing HEL operational capabilities. Science and technology investments can have a significant impact on both the direction of current initiatives as well as new systems and approaches for using HEL weapon systems on the battlefield. 3 Appendix B contains a list of task force members. 4 A list of speakers and topics discussed can be found in Appendix C. vii
Page 1 and 2: Defense Science Board Task Force on
Page 7: TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Page 11: INTRODUCTION Several decades of sci
Page 15 and 16: Findings: Current Initiatives Airbo
Page 17 and 18: Findings: New Applications Airborne
Page 19 and 20: Countermunitions Maritime Self- Def
Page 21 and 22: Findings: Science and Technology Th
Page 23 and 24: Include deployable optics technolog
Page 25 and 26: • Solid-State Lasers. Increase te
Page 27: CHAPTER I. CURRENT INITIATIVES
Page 30 and 31: • Lethality defines the total ene
Page 32 and 33: ABL PAC-3 FLOT THAAD Navy Theater W
Page 34 and 35: PATH TO OPERATIONAL SYSTEM Followin
Page 36 and 37: Technology Investment Schedule(FY)
Page 38 and 39: system, because loss resulting from
Page 40 and 41: SBL IFX DEMONSTRATION The SBL IFX i
Page 42 and 43: Capability Assessment A definitive
Page 44 and 45: Top Risks for IFX Element ID Risk I
Page 46 and 47: Issue: No Operating System Concept
Page 48 and 49: • Beam Control (wavefront error a
Page 50 and 51: 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 HF
Page 52 and 53: The lower left part of Figure 17 sh
Page 54 and 55: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 Relay Mirro
Page 56 and 57: 200 Funding ($M) 150 100 50 Tier 3
Page 58 and 59: HIGH ENERGY LASER SYSTEM - TACTICAL
Page 60 and 61: down of a single Katyusha rocket. I
Page 62 and 63:
concentrations of .8% have been gro
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DF Lasers An artist’s conception
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TASK FORCE FINDINGS 1. The THEL ACT
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As technology matures, the operatio
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Space and Missile Defense Command a
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this pressure. Hence the ATL, using
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• They require a mirror constella
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optics a few KW would be required.
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fluids in order to improve output p
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This program will develop and demon
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mirrors be a significant part of th
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Cost ($B) $80 $60 $40 48 laser sats
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Space Ancillary Missions Ground Anc
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OBJECTIVES The objective of the EAG
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2. Ground-, sea-, air-, and space-b
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Air Force studies have identified p
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capabilities create a desired effec
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question of how weather and environ
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Figure 46. The Army Vision THE OBJE
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efore they could lock on and engage
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Current deuterium fluoride technolo
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elative near term, and support a po
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wavelength and CW and pulse wavefor
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COUNTERMUNITIONS The Army Space and
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• The Waste Heat Subsystem provid
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Figure 49. The Littoral Warfighting
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technology approach that has been u
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Rules of engagement in operations o
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sight to the specific target(s). In
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Incorporating HEL systems into mili
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ADA integrator contractor to be imp
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triggered, need to be established u
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Maritime HEL Propagation 1 - 4.5 m
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In addition to the atmospheric phys
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A SOLUTION TO THE WEAPONEERING PUZZ
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Weapons Characteristics • Warhead
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REQUIRED WORK The Department of Def
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the extent that overall system leve
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BEAM CONTROL A recent study by the
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1st Generation 2nd Generation 3rd G
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• Many integration/demonstration
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Figure 67. Proposed Funding Profile
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concepts ranging from 50 to 300+ KW
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Free Volume = ~7 m 3 Beam Control S
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Table 3. Total SSHCL Weapon system
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8000 7000 Weight (kgs) 6000 5000 40
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Although the patent for the laser w
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In the intermediate region, cost an
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ATMOSPHERIC PROPAGATION AND COMPENS
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econstitutes the laser fluids. A be
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Another concern for FELs, which hav
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Appropriately developed and applied
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• Tactical High Energy Laser - Fi
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APPENDICES
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A-1
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APPENDIX B. TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP
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Dr. Ralph Schneider Mr. Mike Wardla
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October 19-20, 2001 Name Topic Col.
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Capt. Jeff Barchers Dr. Al Ullman D
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TACTICAL HEL FIGHTER STUDY - BOEING
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• Enabling technologies critical
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In the future, the laser target eff
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Cloud Cover & Fog Molecular Absorpt
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P CFLOS = 0.8 Figure D-5. Notional
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egion on the right hand pie chart r
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• CUMULONIMBUS (CB) - Cauliflower
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With this brief discussion of the n
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In the future, off-board sensors wi
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Figures D-12 and D-13 illustrate po
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APPENDIX E. FREE ELECTRON LASERS
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straightforward with modest improve
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1. Develop ampere level average cur
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Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) thu
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RF Input Accelerator Optical Feedba
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picosecond electron pulses over tho
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APPENDIX F. GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS AN
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GBL GGG GPS H 2 O 2 HE HE-HMMWV HEL
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