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Laser Weapon Systems Paradigm Shift in Future Warfare

Laser Weapon Systems Paradigm Shift in Future Warfare. H. Injeyan Northrop Grumman Corporation 2 – 20 - 2009. Historical Perspective. Chemically propelled projectiles have dominated tactical warfare for centuries. A New Paradigm?.

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Laser Weapon Systems Paradigm Shift in Future Warfare

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  1. Laser Weapon Systems Paradigm Shift in Future Warfare H. Injeyan Northrop Grumman Corporation 2 – 20 - 2009

  2. Historical Perspective • Chemically propelled projectiles have dominated tactical warfare for centuries.

  3. A New Paradigm? • Laser weapons may challenge the primacy of projectile weapons.

  4. Capability Demonstrated by THEL • Tactical High Energy Laser has shot down: • Rockets • 122mm-Katyusha • Short range ballistic missile • Artillery • Mortars

  5. Airborne Laser (ABL) Will Further Enhance This Capability High Power Laser: • World’s First MW-Class COIL Laser • World’s First MW-Class Airborne Laser • Demonstrated 6-Module System Operation, Nov. 2004

  6. Currently the Only Option is Chemical HF Laser COIL Laser DF Laser

  7. Solid-state Lasers are the Next Frontier in Weapon Class Lasers • Solid- State Lasers are approaching militarily significant power levels • All electric, they do not require highly reactive chemicals 25 kW Breadboard 100 kW Class, Compact Brassboard

  8. Laser Weapons Systems May Be Integrated in Mobile Platforms Retractable Beam Director Ancillary Equipment Laser Gain Generator Electrical Generator System Controller

  9. AC-130 Gunship Joint Strike Fighter B-2 Bomber Army Tactical Trucks Fighter Aircraft Pod Satellites Submarines Surface Ships Airships Modular Architecture Enables Platform-Specific Weapon Variants 25 – 100 kW Solid State Lasers Small Air Vehicles Require Fiber Lasers

  10. Navy is Betting on Free-electron Lasers Free Electron Lasers • Tunable to different wavelengths • Electrically powered • Systems are very large relative to SSL and require liquid He cooling

  11. Navy Ships Have Lots of Room Free Electron Laser on Navy Destroyer FEL Supporting Facilities

  12. Defensive Operations on Battleground Air Ground Sea

  13. Defense of Critical Infrastructure • Protect critical infrastructure against range of threats • Airports, shipyards • Industrial sites • Nuclear plants • Bridges, highways etc..

  14. Conclusion • By making many of the chemically propelled destructive weapons obsolete, laser weapons have the potential to change the makeup of warfare in the near future • The capability has already been demonstrated and recent advances in solid state lasers promise to make these weapon systems more compact and practical • As defensive weapons become more effective, the hope is that it will dramatically reduce aggressive action from nations or terrorist groups

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