Directed-energy weapons are among a handful of maturing disruptive or asymmetric technologies that could confer game-changing technological advantages both as a superior defensive capability and as an effective electronic attack option. US Navy’s 30-kilowatt Laser Weapon System (LaWS) on USS Ponce is the first laser weapon to have attained Initial Operating Capability (IOC) by virtue of being deployed in a combat theater. The US Air Force is pursuing laser weapons systems (LWS) along with high powered electromagnetics (HPEM) to enable operations in a possible future battlespace involving a technologically advanced adversary with the ability to prevent access to—or deny our ability to operate in—a given area. There is also increased interest in defending against Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and hypersonic weapons.
US is not alone in working to perfecting laser weapons. Russia, China and other countries also have similar programs. US Navy report also confirmed Russia’s plans to develop laser weapons, “Russia plans to develop a high-energy laser weapon with anti-satellite and cruise missile defense capability, and is working on the weaponization of its laser energy systems.”
Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) are an umbrella term covering systems that emits highly focused energy / atomic or subatomic particles and transfers that energy to incapacitate, damage, disable or destroy enemy equipment, facilities and/or personnel. The energy can come in various forms: Electromagnetic radiation, including radio frequency, microwave, lasers and masers, Particles with mass, in particle-beam weapons, Sound, in sonic weapons.
Directed energy has the potential to yield cost effective weapons that can deliver precise, scalable effects – and at long ranges – with a large magazine capacity. Potential applications of this technology include anti-personnel weapon systems, potential missile defense system, and the disabling of lightly armored vehicles such as cars, drones, watercraft, and electronic devices such as mobile phones.
The use of lasers by military and security agencies has been rapidly growing; they have also become easier to buy on the internet. Laser directed energy weapons are being developed to neutralize rockets, UAVs and missiles. “It is anticipated that directed energy weapons will pose a radical and unprecedented threat to future military assets by the 2020-2025 timeframe. According to an October 2016 report by Washington-based analysts MarketsandMarkets, the global market for DEWs is projected to grow to $24.45 billion by 2021, at a compound annual growth rate of 28.9 per cent. The main factor driving this impressive growth is the increasing demand for effective defence against missiles and UAVs.
Therefore Militaries are preparing to face directed energy weapons, in future battles. Military is increasingly looking for technologies for protection of equipment, facilities and/or personnel. Australian Army has introduced an enhanced ballistic laser ocular protection system (BLOPS) as part of the new soldier combat ensemble that provides ballistic, environmental and laser protection to soldiers. However they provide protection against limited spectrum of common lasers (laser lenses).
In order to prepare for this threat, the military must be prepared with a set of effective counters and countermeasures to use against these weapons,” Says Beth Clement, Program Manager CDEW program.
IDST Monthly Access Membership Required
You must be a IDST Monthly Access member to access this content.