High Energy Laser Weapons Systems Applications - The Black Vault

SPACE BASED LASER
The Space Based Laser (SBL) is an element in the ballistic missile
defense strategy to achieve an effective, global ballistic missile defense
capability. SBL is currently envisioned to be a constellation of orbital laser
weapons capable of engaging and destroying several classes of missiles,
launched from anywhere in the world, during the boost phase. Additional
longer-term options that have been considered involve combinations of
orbiting lasers, space-based mirrors, airborne lasers, and ground-based
laser facilities.
With projected capabilities, an operational SBL would add greater
flexibility and effectiveness in response to growing missile threats. Its
boost-phase intercept role could be critical in negating attacks employing
missiles with nuclear, biological, or chemical warheads.
The SBL project has been restructured several times while efforts
continued to move component technologies towards maturity. Currently,
the expected deployment period for an operational SBL is two decades
away (post-2020). Given this time frame and the continuing evolution of
laser technology, the Global Energy Projection study and other advisors
have recommended that the actual weapons concept remain flexible at this
point. The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) has conducted
a number of studies—most recently, the ongoing BMD System
Architecture Study (BMD SAS)—supporting the utility of a moderately
sized, hydrogen fluoride (HF) laser system in a multi-tier BMD system.
There has been no decision to pursue development of an SBL
operational system.
The next major milestone in the SBL project plan is the Integrated
Flight Experiment (IFX). This experiment will provide a feasibility
demonstration and risk reduction for an operational system that would
destroy ballistic missiles in the boost phase. The on-orbit experiment will
address system integration of a high-energy laser, a beam control
subsystem, and the beam director in the absence of gravity and terrestrial
disturbances. An on-orbit experiment is also expected to provide an
opportunity to investigate possible SBL contributions to other tasks such
as surveillance and reconnaissance, tactical warning, target designation,
space object tracking and identification, counter-space, and counter-air.
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