directed-energy-weapons

The revolutionary impact of directed-energy weapons at the operational level of war will come about both as theresult of their proliferation throughout the U.S. force posture and also as a consequence of their ability to change theway current missions are accomplished. For example, directed-energy weapons, particularly ground and airbornelasers, could radically change the meaning of the term “air superiority” and alter how air-to-air and air-to-groundoperations are conducted. The ABL could establish air dominance over a very large volume of airspace, certainlyabove cloud level, in the face of both air-to-air and air-to-ground threats. Nearer to the earth, the operational utilityof laser weapons will depend largely on their ability to overcome environmental effects. If these effects can be adequatelymitigated, laser weapons could dominate both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. Directed-energy weaponscould radically reduce the effectiveness of ground-based air defenses, enabling U.S. forces to more swiftly and completelygain and hold dominance over enemy airspace.At the strategic level, the impact of directed-energy weapons will be a function of their ability to support entirely newmissions. One of the most significant of these new missions could be space control and space strike. Directed-energyweapons are particularly well suited to exploiting the advantages of position and extended line-of-sight inherent withdeployments in space. Another mission area with revolutionary strategic potential is non-destructive strategic strike.Broad-area HPM weapons conceivably could be employed to cause the sudden and total failure of major nationalcommunications and power systems, both civilian and military. Entire sectors of a nation’s economy could be held atrisk with no direct danger to civilian populations.2. Directed-energy weapons are both enabled by and enablers of other military systems. It is important to recognizethat directed-energy weapons are moving to the battlefield at a time when a number of other significant new technologiesare also making their appearances. Directed-energy weapons will be enabled by advances in sensors and computingcapability that have become the backbone of a revolution in information warfare. For the potential ofdirected-energy weapons to be realized, they must rely on highly precise, nearly-instantaneous target detection, identification,tracking and lock-on.Among the most significant advances in military hardware that support the weaponization of directed-energy is theadvent of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). There appears to be a natural synergy between UAVs and directedenergyweapons. Armed UAVs have already made their appearance on the battlefield. One of the advantages thatUAVs provide as a platform for directed-energy weapons is their ability to enter high-risk environments with no dangerto personnel. A UAV could deliver a low-power laser weapon within range of its target without risk to pilots. AnHPM-armed, long-loiter UAV programmed to fly a particular course could sweep battlefields or even entire cities.3. The first and possibly most significant impact of directed-energy weapons will be defensive in character. In thecase of short-range rockets, artillery shells and mortars, laser weapons for the first time will provide a means of activedefense. This alone could constitute a revolutionary advance in defensive means. Mobile laser defenses could provideprotection for valuable fixed targets such as air bases.The ABL holds forth the promise for an effective boost-phase defense against ballistic missiles. Even deployed insmall numbers, the ABL will provide a stand-off capability against the relatively small arsenals likely to be available toso-called rogue states over the next several decades.52 Directed-Energy Weapons and The American Way of War