Air Force Research Laboratory has developed a self-protective high-energy laser demonstrationator (SHiELD). It will contain a pod with a laser weapon and a beam control device that can be fitted to a military aircraft. According to an AFRL release from July 10, the system is expected to be tested by 2024.
The self-protect high energy laser can be used to protect fighter planes against air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles. It could also be used on older fighters, transports, and tankers as well airborne warning or control planes.
Ultimately, the self-protect laser would need to be able to integrate with fire control systems, a problem that requires an understanding of how much space, power and cooling each subsystem needs, Dr. Robert Afzal, a Lockheed Martin senior fellow in laser and sensor technologies in Bothell, Wash., told Seapower Magazine.
This presents a problem, particularly in terms beam stability and power, when it comes to atmospheric turbulentence. He added that developers are working towards overcoming this problem.
Another challenge could be the integration of a mobile laser onto an aircraft that has its own power source. It may be a portable fuel generator or another type of fuel. This is the reason why the Air Force Research Lab's (or afrl), directed energy directorate has made significant investments over the past decade to develop such capabilities.
Inside Defense reports that a 50-kilowatt laser mounted to an eight-wheeled Stryker combat car was one of the first attempts in this direction. It was tested last year by the Army. The laser from the Stryker was tested and found to be able track and defeat three sizes of 60-millimeter mortar rounds as well as drones.
According to Afrl, these capabilities could be used in a number of ways, including for the defence of aircraft against incoming rockets and the engagement of enemy targets on ground or in air within visual reach. The technology could also be incorporated into fire control systems to help guide weapons.
Gunzinger also stated that these weapons are well-suited for distributed operations which decrease vulnerability to attack. He added that these weapons are a great fit for small, light vehicles and could even be built on backs of dune buggies.
However, it is still challenging to integrate them on a fighter jet. The SHiELD Project has seen several delays by the AFRL. They are not sure when these will be resolved.
Afrl's direct energy directorate is focused on high-energy weapon technologies since the 1980s. With the aim of producing a fully operational, laser weapon for the airforce by the mid-20th century, The directorate is exploring ways to make the laser weapon more flexible by incorporating coherent beam combination-tiled array high -energy laser sources that are able to be placed in panelized, fixed-mounted configurations to create a large beam.
According to its website, the directed energy directorate of AFRL has a budget in excess of $355 millions. It runs a variety programs that help to transform these technologies into functional weaponry, including two airborne demonstrations.