Laser Weapons - Defense Department Research on High-Energy Laser Systems, ABL, SBL, HELSTAR, THEL, FCS - Ground, Air, Space Based, Solid State Systems (English Edition) [Kindle-editie] beoordelingen het boek quotes

This major DOD report on high-energy laser weapons (Task Force on High Energy Laser Weapon Systems Applications) covers Defense Department research on laser weapons with details on plans for ground, air, and space-based systems. There is coverage of the Airborne Laser (ABL), Space-based Laser (SBL), High-Energy Laser (HEL), Chemical-Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL), High-Energy Laser System Tactical Army (HELSTAR), Tactical High-Energy Laser (THEL), Future Combat Systems (FCS), Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL), Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD), High Power Solid State Laser (HPSSL), and much more. Some contents include: CURRENT INITIATIVES * Airborne Laser * Space Based Laser * High Energy Laser System - Tactical Army * NEW APPLICATIONS * Advanced Tactical Laser * Ground Based Laser for Space Control * Evolutionary Aerospace Global Laser Engagement System * Tactical High Energy Laser Fighter * Future Combat System Applications * Countermunitions * Maritime Self-Defense * Large-Aircraft Self-Defense * Operations Other Than War * MAJOR ISSUES * Atmospheric and Propagation Concerns * Understanding Effects and Vulnerability * Modeling and Simulation * Beam Control * Laser Development * SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY NEEDS * High-Energy Laser Program Funding * S&T Program Philosophy * Targeting S&T Investment * Free-Electron Lasers * Glossary of Acronyms and Abbreviations. Several decades of science and technology, concept development, and engineering development have provided the underpinnings for a significant contribution by high-energy lasers (HELs) to national security needs. The potential for speed-of-light response with a wide variety of effects to support a variety of missions suggests a new level of flexibility and adaptability-attributes that are particularly valuable in the complex national security environment currently existing and unfolding. As in the case of most important new technologies, we are just beginning to understand and exploit the potential of high-energy lasers. It is nonetheless important to realize the extent of this potential. Directed-energy weapons can add a new dimension to a wide range of missions. Appropriately developed and applied, high-energy laser systems can become key contributors to the 21st-century arsenal. Success for directed energy requires hard and expensive work to mature the technologies, develop operational systems, and apply the capabilities operationally. In the relatively near term, the new capabilities afforded by the use of high power lasers could improve numerous aspects of warfare from initial detection and identification of targets to battle damage assessment after their attack. Directed-energy weapon systems, of the type discussed in this report, could be significant force multipliers providing "speed-of-light" engagement, unique damage mechanisms, greatly enhanced multi-target engagement, and deep magazines limited only by the fuel available. The use of these weapons offers the opportunity for the strategist to select from a range of lethal through non-lethal effects to the target system. The laser beam delivers its energy to a relatively small spot on the target-typically a few inches in diameter. The incident intensity is sufficient to melt steel. Typical melt-through times for missile bodies are about 10 seconds. But if the heated area is under stress from aerodynamic or static pressure loads, catastrophic failure can occur more quickly. The beam can attack specific aim points on a missile that are known to be vulnerable; for example, pressurized fuel tanks or aerodynamic control surfaces. This is a privately authored news service and educational publication of Progressive Management. Our publications synthesize official government information with original material - they are not produced by the federal government.