Directed Energy Weapons on the Battlefield: A New Vision for 2025

Abstract

Several nations are engaging in development and production of directed energy weapons. Recent scientific advances now enable the production of lethal lasers and high-powered microwaves. The current growth and development in this emerging area strongly suggests that directed energy weapons of lethal power will reach the battlefield before 2010. Since proliferation of lower power laser weapons has already happened, it is likely that proliferation of high power or high energy weapons will occur as well. This paper expands on this development and posits potential impacts on a plausible future battlefield, developed in part from the Alternate Futures of AF 2025, where all comers deploy lethal directed energy technologies. From these impacts, which span doctrine, organization, force structure, and systems design, this paper recommends changes to better posture the United States for this potential future.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA463429

Entities

People

  • John P. Geiss Ii

Organizations

  • Air War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Chemical Oxygen Iodine Lasers
  • Command And Control
  • Directed Energy Weapons
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Health Services
  • High Power Microwaves
  • Laser Beams
  • Laser Science
  • Lasers
  • Light (Electromagnetic Radiation)
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Effects
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy