Advanced Phased Array for Conformal, High Energy (APACHE) Weapon Systems

To address the DoD need for a low SWaP fuselage conformal high energy phased array laser beam director, Optonicus proposes the development of a new Airborne Phased ArrayConformal, High Energy (APACHE) weapons system.The APACHE architecture, based on an athermalized conformal optical design and novel wide FOV beam steering controls that accommodate all necessary acquisition, pointing, and tracking functions, will provide a new system suited for an airborne platforms unique vibration and thermal demands.This development will leverage Optonicus expertise in high power phased fiber-array design.In Phase I, Optonicus has demonstrated feasibility through detailed optical design, preliminary mechanical design, analytical modeling and subsystem prototype feasibility demonstrations.In Phase II, Optonicus will demonstrate the application of APACHE to an airborne platform utilizing extensive thermal and vibrational modeling, detailed mechanical design, and assemble a laboratory prototype of the fiber-array laser head with integrated sensing and wide field-of-regard capabilities that will be field-tested. In Phase III, Optonicus will integrate the APACHE into a ruggedized laser phased array system and expand commercialization for use on DoD airborne platforms.Civilian applications include high-power fiber laser welding, cutting, precision hole drilling, additive manufacturing, materials processing and secure free space power transmission.