Electronic Military & Defense Annual Resource

3rd Edition

Electronic Military & Defense magazine was developed for engineers, program managers, project managers, and those involved in the design and development of electronic and electro-optic systems for military, defense, and aerospace applications.

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Trends Directed Energy Weapons Development Laser-based weapons are demonstrating their viability in counter-RAM and counter-UAV applications; high-power RF systems are finding a niche in non-lethal uses. By Asif Anwar A ccording to the U.S. Army field manual "Electronic Warfare in Operations" (FM3-36, Feb. 2009) directed energy refers to technologies "that produce a beam of concentrated electromagnetic energy or atomic or subatomic particles." Research into directed energy systems is being conducted on a global basis and has focused on laser and high-power RF technologies. Laser-Based Weapons Key drivers for the use of laser-based weapons include the relatively low efficiency, high operational cost, and debris associated with conventional air defense systems. However, the development of laser weapons needs to be balanced against the requirements of specific applications in terms of range and power outputs capable with current laser technology. After years spent trying to develop futuristic systems with unrealistic performance specifications, companies working on the current generation of laserbased directed energy systems are taking a much more pragmatic approach. A common theme is the development of systems based on COTS fiber lasers in conjunction with coupling techniques to achieve practical power levels. The U.S. Army is working with Boeing Directed Energy Systems on the High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator (HEL MD) program. The eventual aim of the program is to put a 50 to 100 kW (fiber laser-based) laser system onto a vehicle that can take handover from external networks to search and detect threats within a 0.2 to 20 km range, followed by acquisition and tracking in a narrow field to enable final aiming and destruction of the target. MBDA Germany has several decades of experience in laser weapons systems, with activity going back to work carried out by predecessor companies MBB and Siemens Defence Electronics. Over the 2008 to 2011 time frame, MBDA was involved in the European Defence Agency (EDA) Air Defense High-Energy Laser Weapon (AD-HELW) project, which has acted as the basis for the conceptual design of a high-energy laser (HEL) weapon against RAM (rocket, artillery, and mortar) targets. Rheinmetall is also exploring the potential of lasers as the basis for counter-RAM (C-RAM) systems, while leveraging an existing portfolio of stationary air defense systems such as the Skyshield and Skyguard products. The company has used the Skyshield C-RAM system as the basis for a laserbased solution with coarse tracking provided by the existing fire control unit of the Skyshield augmented by a HEL to increase the accuracy in terms of alignment and tracking. A 50 kW demonstration system has been developed using 28 Electronic Military & Defense ■ www.vertmarkets.com/electronics this concept with the Skyguard system radar signal used to provide initial target acquisition, range data, and fire control. Issues still remain in fielding laser-based directed energy weapons. Unlike conventional weapons, a laser beam that misses its target has the potential to impact assets in air and space via laser-dazzling effects, so establishing rules of engagement will be important when these systems come into operational use. High-Power RF Weapons High-power RF technologies appear to hold promise in the area of non-lethal weapons (NLWs). The primary goal of NLWs is to incapacitate with effects that are relatively reversible and minimize the risk of damage and injury. As well as being applied to human adversaries, NLWs can also be used to stop and disable vessels and vehicles. The U.S. DoD NonLethal Weapons Program is one example of activity in this area. The Joint Non-Lethals Weapons Directorate (JNLWD) coordinates these efforts, including activities on the RF front, examples of which include the RF Vehicle Stopper (RFVS) and the fielding of high-power microwave payloads on UAV platforms. The most high-profile example is perhaps the Active Denial System (ADS), which uses millimeter waves to produce an intolerable heating sensation, compelling targeted individuals to instinctively move out of the beam's path. The system has been fielded in two ADS configurations, with initial usage designed for the provision of standoff capabilities in a crowd control scenario, targeting up to four individuals at a time. The systems are capable of 10 kW CW average power outputs used in conjunction with a planar scanning antenna. The primary technology being used to generate the power is based on a gyrotron, with future development work focused on size, weight, and power advances to achieve a 600-lb. system weight (including antenna). Work is also ongoing on a 95 GHz GaN MMIC-based system to enable more compact solutions for vehicle integration. In summary, work in the US and Europe is progressing to the point where laser-based weapons have demonstrated their viability as directed energy systems. High power RF capabilities are also being explored, with a practical use case focused in the NLW area. Asif Anwar is director of Strategy Analytics' Strategic Technologies Practice. His current focus includes supporting the defense industry across all segments — platform and systems integrators, subsystem suppliers, software vendors, and component and semiconductor technology providers. He has been providing insights and analysis in the advanced electronics markets for more than 12 years.

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