Directed Energy Test
Abstract
The Department of Defense (DoD) is exploring the military utility, safety, and suitability of directed energy weapons. A robust test capability to assess directed energy weapons is essential to understanding their effectiveness and limitations, including determining their effectiveness in performing counter improvised explosive device (C-IED) operations. Such assessments will depend upon knowledge acquired through the test and evaluation (T&E) of directed energy technologies and testing of operational concepts. Directed energy weapon technologies, primarily consisting of high energy lasers (HEL) and high powered microwaves (HPM), are outpacing available test capabilities. Traditional test techniques for evaluating conventional munitions (with flight times ranging from seconds to minutes) are not sufficient for the T&E of directed energy weapons that place energy on target instantaneously. Consequently, new test technology solutions are needed to ensure that adequate developmental, live-fire, and operational test capabilities are available when directed energy programs are ready to test. Directed energy system and component testing requires three principal assessments: (1) energy or power on target; (2) the effects on the target; and (3) the propagation of the directed energy to the target through the atmosphere. In addition, the vulnerabilities of DoD systems to directed energy threats are required to be characterized in accordance with Military Standard (MIL-STD)-464C. Equally as important, current test capabilities do not provide the detailed data required to understand U.S. directed energy system performance and effects. The technology development efforts within the Directed Energy Test (DET) project have been prioritized to align with DoD guidance on science and technology priority investments. As such, the DET project is developing the technologies necessary for quantitative assessment of United States HEL and HPM performance, as well as the vulnerability of DoD weapon systems to enemy directed energy threats.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2015
- Source ID
- 5_0603941D8Z_3_0400_PB_2015
Related Documents
- Root: Test and Evaluation/Science and Technology
- Child Accomplishment: Directed Energy Test