Weapons Technology
Abstract
The Weapons Technology Program Element develops and tests a high-powered directed energy laser to build the foundation of the next-generation laser system on a high altitude unmanned airborne platform. The MDA's High Energy Laser (HEL) investment incrementally develops scalable, efficient, and compact HEL technology in the laboratory before beginning a high power laser flight test program. The technology required for tracking the target, aiming the laser, and building flight demonstrators is developed under the Technology Maturation Initiatives (TMI) Program Element (0604115C). 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 (HELJTO), and the Air Force in a systems engineering based strategy to research, develop and test directed energy weapons technology. MDA is developing a set of common core technology 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. In FY 2017, MDA, DARPA and the Air Force will complete a 30 kilowatt packaged Fiber Combined Laser (FCL) system at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory. The system consists of the laser, batteries and thermal device. MDA will also upgrade the Diode Pumped Alkali Laser (DPAL) testbed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to conduct a 30 kilowatt demonstration with improved beam quality. In FY 2018, MDA will complete these final milestones and conclude the FFRDC laboratory high-powered directed energy laser activity. The Agency will make the directed energy technology developed under this PE available to industry for incorporation into the Low Power Laser Demonstrator and for further laser scaling development to power levels required for robust, speed of light missile defense. Divert and Attitude Control System (DACS) was transferred to PE 0603294C Common Kill Vehicle Technology beginning in FY 2018.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2018
- Source ID
- 0603178C_3_0400_PB_2018
- Change Summary Explanation
- The decrease in FY18 reflects the transfer of Divert and Attitude Control System (DACS) to PE 0603294C Common Kill Vehicle Technology beginning in FY 2018.
- Service Agency Name
- Missile Defense Agency
Entities
Organizations
- Missile Defense Agency
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