High Energy Laser Weapons Systems Applications - The Black Vault

In the future, the laser target effects database needs to become part of
the Joint Munitions Effectiveness Manual in order for the warfighter to be
able assess its military worth, versus dropping munitions on specific
targets.
IMPLICATIONS OF WEATHER / ENVIRONMENT ON HEL WEAPONS
Critics of high-energy laser weapons on tactical aircraft emphasize the
difficulty of propagating laser energy through weather and environmental
conditions. This study performed a rigorous assessment of weather and
environmental effects to quantify the precise effects on the mission
capability of the Tactical HEL Fighter. Due to its importance, significant
details of this extensive analysis are included here. They show weather is
not a severe limitation on the use of HELs for the warfighter in tactical
engagements.
Overview: Weather and Environmental Effects
The evaluation included operational, tactical, and warfighter
perspectives, so the weather and environmental effects could be evaluated
in the context of how the Tactical HEL Fighter would be used in combat.
Figure D-2 lists various obscurants, weather and environmental, which
could have a detrimental result on HEL Fighter capability. As shown,
naturally occurring effects of moisture, rain, ice, and dust are considered
in the weather category. Environmental conditions generally refer to the
combat environment, and include man-made effects of smoke,
countermeasures, pollution, and chemical/biological weapons.
Weather
Clouds
Fog
Rain
Sleet/Snow
Dust Storms
Relative Humidity
Environmental
Conditions
Smoke
(Countermeasures)
Debris/Fire/Smoke
(Combat Damage)
Pollutants
Chem/Bio Weapon
Clouds
Figure D-2. Variations of Weather and
Environmental Conditions
Weather causes differing effects on laser propagation, depending upon
the laser wavelength and the type of weather element present—rain, fog,
D-5