Counter Laser Technologies
Abstract
The goal of the Counter Laser Technologies program is to develop a suite of technologies to increase the survivability of United States weapons platforms when encountering a high energy laser attack. Laser countermeasures include systems and materials for detection and warning, material treatments to harden vulnerable surfaces, computer models to plan mission engagements to favor U.S. system survivability when under high energy laser attack, and techniques to degrade or destroy the offending laser weapon. The High Energy Laser (HEL) lethality of concern in this program is apart from on-going efforts within the Services for sensor or eye protection from laser illumination. Counter Laser Technologies addresses the HEL's ability to deposit energy on the weapon or platform to melt through, fracture, or weaken the body, thereby disabling or destroying it. This effort will initially focus on characterizing the vulnerability mechanisms of a candidate set of weapons and platforms, developing warning systems to rapidly determine the attributes of the inbound threat (vector of origin, wavelength, power, format), and developing material solutions (skin treatments, material hardening methods). Additional effort will focus on ways to proactively degrade or destroy offending laser performance by altering the laser's internal optics or by modifying the laser's line of sight to the target. Technologies from this program will transition to platform and weapon system developers in all Services.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2013
- Source ID
- f5c11fbd8d640c48a248f4404aaf14c9