DIRECTED ENERGY RESEARCH
Abstract
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) will conduct research into the transmission and control of directed energy through and above the atmosphere. The research will include investigation of multiple high energy laser technologies, characterization of the atmosphere as it relates to directed energy propagation, improving beam control, and improving modeling and simulation. A main objective of the program is to anchor beam propagation models for both the Air Force and Missile Defense applications as well as testing the operation and lethality of lasers in the atmosphere. The agency will work with the Director of Defense Research and Engineering and High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office in a systems engineering based strategy for the research, development, test and evaluation of high energy laser technologies. In FY 2011, the agency will pursue additional directed energy technologies for testing and use against projected threats while continuing to seek opportunities to integrate concepts into the aircraft laser test platform for experimentation. An advanced missile defense technology development program is part of the MDA strategy to develop emerging and maturing technologies. The Directed Energy Research contributions to the Combatant Commanders Prioritized Capabilities List include: - Engage and re-engage a threat to include simple and advanced air and cruise missiles, Short Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBM), Medium Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBM), Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBM) and Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) The primary goals of the Directed Energy Research Program are to: perform lethality demonstrations using additional target types, improve acquisition, tracking and pointing; collect data from boundary-layer turbulence; develop advanced adaptive optics; control and mitigate contamination; compensate for thermal blooming; and explore and develop Diode Pumped Alkali Laser System (DPALS). DPALS technology offers a path forward to high efficiency, electrically-driven, compact, light-weight High Energy Lasers (HEL); advanced technologies that address future threats. The successful completion of DPALS would open the door to a game-changing laser technology that promises to greatly enhance the utility of high power lasers for missions of interest to MDA and DoD. MDA plans to measure DPALS progress using Knowledge Points (KP). - KP1 is a low power continuous operation DPALS that MDA plans to demonstrate in the second quarter of FY 2011 - KP2 is a medium power continuous operation DPALS that MDA plans to demonstrate in the second quarter of FY 2011
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2012
- Source ID
- 0603901C_3_0400_PB_2012
- Change Summary Explanation
- The FY 2012 $5.042 million dollar decrease is the result of MDA programmatic changes.
- Service Agency Name
- Missile Defense Agency
Entities
Organizations
- Missile Defense Agency
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