Ideal Directed-Energy System To Defeat Small Unmanned Aircraft System Swarms
Abstract
The proliferation of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), miniaturization of sensor technology, and advancement of UAS swarm logic foretell that swarms of sUAS will threaten US airbases by the 2025 timeframe. Currently fielded base defense systems are not well suited to combat this emerging threat. Current directed energy (DE) developmental systems indicate this class of weapons is the best solution. A review of several continuous wave laser, pulsed high-powered microwave, and electronic warfare/jamming systems indicate the following attributes as ideal for a future directed energy weapon (DEW) system to defeat swarms of sUAS: scalable, layered, fused, modular, and open. In order to ensure DEW systems become a normalized component of the USAF base defense operations, DEW effects should be incorporated into the Joint Munitions Effectiveness Manual, DEW collateral damage considerations should be explored and standing guidance developed, and DEW system employment/command and control concepts of operations should be developed, tested, and evaluated. These recommendations should be acted upon immediately as DEW systems are already being employed to counter individual sUAS and the sUAS swarm threat will soon arrive.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 21, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1042081
Entities
People
- David F. Pina
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College