Weapons Technology

Abstract

The Weapons Technology Program Element focuses on reducing the cost of an engagement by developing compact, efficient High Energy Lasers (HEL) and the novel beam propagation technology required for low-power to strategic-class Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) applications. Weapons Technology works closely with Discrimination Sensor Technology to correlate threat identification and engagement hand over requirements to build the foundation for multi-mission directed energy platforms. The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) collaborates with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office, and the Air Force in a systems engineering based strategy to research, develop and test Directed Energy weapons technology. Within the Directed Energy Research Technology area (MD69), the MDA is conducting research into the transmission and control of directed energy largely above the atmosphere for mid-term (FY 2019) missile defense applications and, ultimately, boost phase intercepts. The MDA is pursuing promising laser technologies in a competitive environment with Industry, supported by breakthrough research at the Nation's premier laboratories. The MDA will accelerate Directed Energy technology development with the goal of scaling to power levels required for robust, speed of light missile defense. The MDA is collaborating with the DARPA and the United States Air Force to develop a set of common core technologies that will enable both Missile Defense and air dominance missions. These core technologies include fiber launchers; high brightness, high efficiency diode pump modules; and high power, high efficiency fiber amplifiers. The DARPA and the MDA will jointly build and test an approximately 50kW class combined fiber laser at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT LL), scaling up from the successful 34 kW the laboratory demonstration achieved in FY 2014. Within the Interceptor Technology area (MD72), the MDA develops technology that enhances the capability to hit-to-kill within current and future BMDS architectures. The MDA also focus on developing the enabling technology necessary to make game-changing breakthroughs. In FY 2016, the Agency will make technology investments for the next generation solid Divert Attitude Control System (DACS) in support of the Multi-Object Kill Vehicle. The Agency will competitively develop the next generation solid DACS. This project will also investigate rail gun suitability and integration requirements for ballistic missile defense applications. MD40 Program-Wide Support (PWS) consists of essential non-headquarters management efforts providing integrated and efficient support to the MDA functions and activities across the entire Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS).

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2016
Source ID
0603178C_3_0400_PB_2016
Change Summary Explanation
FY 2015 change reflects Public Law 113-235, FY2015 Omnibus; Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act. The FY 2016 net increase of $8.895 million reflects: - An increase of $12.967 million for advanced technology efforts in interceptor technology to address an emerging threat. - A decrease of $4.185 million of funding and content transferred to the Technology Maturation Initiatives program element, 0604115C, for prototype development. Low power laser concepts and hardware developed under this Weapons Technology program element and by Industry are technically mature enough for prototype development under the Technology Maturation Initiative program element - $0.113 million was added from multiple Missile Defense Agency program elements to MD40 Program Wide Support
Service Agency Name
Missile Defense Agency

Entities

Organizations

  • Missile Defense Agency

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Amplifiers
  • Attitude Control Systems
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Composite Materials
  • Control Systems
  • Defense Systems
  • Directed Energy Weapons
  • Engineering
  • High Energy
  • High Energy Lasers
  • Kill Vehicles
  • Lasers
  • Materials
  • Systems Engineering
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Readers

  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.
  • Missile Defense Systems.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy

Related Documents