DIRECTED

ENERGY
SYSTEMS
2016 IN REVIEW

INTRODUCTION
The age of directed energy (DE) is finally and rapidly moving forward. No longer are
those involved in this field focused on issues of policy and possibility, but instead are fixed
on the advancement of the technology into utility exploring issues of integration, scale
and operational application.

Here, Defence IQ provides an easy-to-digest summary of some of the most interesting

developments weve seen taking place over the last year of DE development worldwide,
from military field tests to private sector prototypes.
The annual Directed Energy Systems conference is now in its eleventh year, and will be
held in London between 21st and 23rd February 2017. The focus of the event is on the
development and deployment of these cutting-edge systems including laser, sonic,
microwave and other energy systems. At a time of unprecedented technological change
and progress, DES 2017 provides our guests with an opportunity to exchange ideas, garner
solutions and strengthen capability. For information on how to register, download the
agenda today.

Russian DE systems emerging

Russian media reported in October that the Russian military had successfully tested a new
radio-electronic device based on new physical principles. RIA Novosti stated that
confirmation had come from the system's developing company the Joint InstrumentMaking Corporation saying, "Real samples of such weapons have already been created,
and they have proved their efficiencyThis is a completely new type of weapon, which has
no analogues in the country and, dare we say, in the world." The unnamed weapon is said
to employ directed energy to render equipment unusable, [enacting] an indirect physical
influence on the on-board equipment of aircraft and UAVs, neutralizing precision
weapons. The first examples of such weapons in the Russian arsenal were exhibited in
September 2016 at a closed demonstration session for the Defense Ministry.

SEPTEMBER 2016 DEFENCE IQ

India incorporates DE into 15-year tech roadmap

Indias Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) announced in March that
it is close to developing a 10-kilowatt directed energy weapon capable of taking down
errant drones. The device has already been successfully tested at the Centre for High
Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS) up to a range of over 2,600 feet. A demonstration
for the military was also performed at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in
September 2015. According to the Times of India, the DRDO is prioritizing DEW
development, outlining a 15-year "technology perspective and capability roadmap." The
agency claims it has already built a number of smaller weapons systems based on similar
principles. These include devices designed to disarm mines and IEDs, vehicle-mounted
crowd control units, and hand-held devices capable of overpowering armed individuals.

British lasers to demonstrate utility

The UKs plans to build and test a tactical laser weapon prototype took a step forward with
the announcement following an invitation to tender (ITT) to industry in November 2015
that MBDA UK had secured a 30 million (US $40 million) deal to build a laser-directed
energy weapon demonstrator. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been finalising the deal
with the UK arm of Europes major missile maker to build a one-off prototype laser
weapon to launch a new innovation initiative. MBDA was set to lead a consortium that
includes Qinetiq, Leonardo, GKN, BAE Systems, Marshall Aerospace and Defence, and
Arke. The prototype is scheduled to be delivered for trials by 2019 as Britain attempts to
catch up in a field traditionally dominated by landmark developments in the United States
and Germany. The new laser demonstrator is part of a wider programme being studied by
the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), which includes the potential of
radio frequency-directed energy weapons.

SEPTEMBER 2016 DEFENCE IQ

China unveils LAG II laser

A powerful militarized laser developed by a joint venture between the Chinese Academy
of Physics Engineering and Jiuyuan Hi Tech Equipment Corporation was unveiled during
Septembers Africa Aerospace and Defence 2016 tradeshow in South Africa. The Low
Altitude Guard (LAG) II is a laser weapons system capable of firing a high-power 30
kilowatt laser beam to knock small airborne targets such as UAVs and drones out of the
sky at a range of up to 2.5 miles. This second iteration of the LAG improves drastically
upon the first, with twice the range and power of the LAG I, which makes the LAG II
comparable to the Laser Weapons System installed on the mighty floating base, the USS
Ponce. Poly Technologies reports that the system is compact enough to be mounted on
medium-sized trucks or 6x6 armoured personnel carriers. Using an electro-optical
guidance system, the weapon is capable of using directed energy as a defence against
small incoming aircraft. It is believed the LAG II is currently being reviewed by the People's
Liberation Army for anti-drone missions.

Germany testing naval gun mounted laser

At the beginning of this year Rheinmetall and the German Bundeswehr successfully tested
a high-energy laser effector installed on a German warship operating on the high seas. The
system they tested is the Oerlikon high-energy laser gun using a revolver gun turret
equipped with laser weapon modules. Each module consists of one 10 kW fibre laser and
a beam-forming unit. For the test Rheinmetall mounted the 10 kilowatt high-energy laser
(HEL) effector on a MLG 27 light naval gun mounted on the ship. The tests included
tracking of potential targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and very small
surface craft. While these engagements were passive and laser was not fired at sea, the
HEL effector was tested separately, against stationary targets on land. Demonstrating the
feasibility of integration of Rheinmetalls HEL effector on MLG27 in maritime operations,
the test programme provided significant insights for future development of marine HEL
systems.

SEPTEMBER 2016 DEFENCE IQ

USS Ponce to test more powerful laser system

While the current 30 kilowatt laser weapon on board the USS Ponce has proved to be
effective and low cost, a June 2016 summit on directed energy weapons in Washington,
D.C., saw Admiral Bill Moran, vice chief of naval operations, announce the Navys
impending plan to install and test a 150 kilowatt system. The lasers previously
demonstrated on the Ponce, part of the Laser Weapon System (LaWS) programme, are
powerful enough to burn through slow-flying targets. A press release stated that not only
is the [current] laser lethal, but it is also relatively cost-effective: "At less than a dollar per
shot, there's no question about the value LaWS provides. With affordability a serious
concern for our defense budgets, this will more effectively manage resources to ensure our
Sailors and Marines are never in a fair fight." The 150 kW version will be approximately
five times as powerful as the existing system and will shipboard testing will be overseen by
the Office of Naval Research in the near future.

Counter-laser systems in the works

Adsys Controls of Irvine, California, has created Helios, a new anti-laser technology which
can be carried on drones. The firm focuses on the idea that to do much damage, an
offensive laser needs to remain focused on its target for several seconds. Helios stops a
laser from doing this by disrupting the systems controlling the beam the Achilles heel
for all such weapons. Beam control is a critical function of high-energy lasers, says Adsys
CEO Brian Goldberg. Helios can detect an incoming laser beam and identify its key
characteristics, such as power, wavelength, pulse frequency and its source, and then
interfere with the beam control possibly by firing back a low-power laser of its own so
the attacking laser cannot fix on the target. Adsys Controls of Irvine did not disclose the
details on how interference is done, but David Hambling, a journalist focused on science
and defence technology, speculates that the technology might involve fooling the control
system into thinking it is hitting its target despite the laser actually pointing a few metres
to the side. A direct hit would have produced a big burst of reflected light, so a pulse sent
back by an anti-laser laser could make it look like the original laser was on target.
However, Roland Smith, a plasma physicist at Imperial College London suggested that
Helios could be susceptible to the same trick, saying, If it puts out enough power to
disrupt targeting, that makes it visible and a target itselfIf the laser weapon knows it is
being jammed, it could engage the jammer.
SEPTEMBER 2016 DEFENCE IQ

LM believes scale and integration are now the big DE issues

The question is moving from, Do we have the devices? to How quickly can we integrate
them on the platform? stated Daniel Miller, Senior Fellow at Air Vehicle Science and
Systems at Lockheed Martin. In essence, the new challenge for direct energy technology
is one of integration at the service level. Miller stated that while it would be possible to
deliver a laser weapon in the 30 KW range, as soon as the scale increases, it raises the
question of how to deal with atmospheric interference an issue which becomes more
complicated with weapons mounted on airborne systems. Lockheeds Athena (Advanced
Test High Energy Asset) 30 KW weapon, can potentially bore a hole through a two inch
piece of steel in seconds, enough to disable an incoming rocket or disable the engine of a
pickup truck. In terms of integration with existing platforms Lockheed Martin has
identified a path to mature and further miniaturise their laser weapon system for tactical
U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps vehicles.

Counter-UAV effort sees air defence system adaptations

Raytheon was reported to be touting the use of its Phalanx air defence system alongside a
laser to counter unmanned air vehicles that pose a threat to navy vessels. The company
has been providing its system under a Babcock-led effort under the UK governments
Defence Science and Technology Laboratorys laser directed energy weapon capability
demonstrator (LDEW-CD) programme, which is exploring using a laser alongside a 20mm
Gatling gun to counter airborne threats including UAVs. Raytheon is now looking at
adapting this technology to provide a counter-UAV system: a concept that is gaining
popularity resulting from the proliferation of unmanned systems and the threat that they
pose to people and infrastructure. Babcocks LDEW-CD offering includes the Phalanx
surface weapon system, a Qinetiq laser, Leonardo optronics and a forward-looking infrared
(FLIR) and radar system. At the time, a downselect was said to be imminent, with other
offerings expected to come from MBDA, Thales, Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall, who
will provide the Royal Navy with information on the potential of using lasers within
weapon systems.

SEPTEMBER 2016 DEFENCE IQ

DIRECTED ENERGY
SYSTEMS 2017
21 - 22 February, 2017 - London, UK

Directed Energy Systems 2017 will allow you to:

Set the value proposition for Directed Energy Systems in order to

secure funding and end-user uptake: define what these systems can
do that traditional powder guns and high-velocity projectiles
cannot, and how this case can be made to decision-makers

Discover the emerging CONOPS behind the use of DES systems

what role do the armed services see for directed energy, in what
domain, and what is the time frame for adoption?

Learn how to better mitigate safety concerns surrounding the use of

directed energy systems, and how to communicate recent advances
in this field both to decision makers and the general public

Explore new concepts for the use of DES systems from microwave
cruise missiles, laser dazzlers and CIWS to microwave UAS hunters
and non-lethal crowd control systems

Find out more about the development of DES among potential

adversaries and how their own progress and priorities compare and
contrast with your own

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