Conformal High Energy Laser Weapon System

The cumbersome beam director and turret associated with conventional high energy laser (HEL) weapon systems pose a significant barrier to integration of HEL technology on aircraft. Development of a viable conformal HEL system architecture based on phased array lasers would provide a critical enabling capability for aircraft that would also be relevant to ground based platforms. Nutronics, Inc. proposes a Phase I effort to investigate its Conformal Laser Weapon System (CLAWS) architecture. CLAWS leverages an innovative Nutronics HEL phasing approach that phases from the master oscillator to the target. CLAWS is conformal, realizing the vision of phased array laser systems. CLAWS does not use a beacon illuminator, instead using the return from the HEL beam on the target for phasing the HEL. CLAWS is not degraded by time of flight. CLAWS utilizes an innovative non-iterative phased array imaging method. The proposed effort will verify the capability of CLAWS using simulation and will evaluate key system trades associated with capability, size, weight, and power requirements for CLAWS to meet capability of a 25 kW laser with a 30 cm beam director. Trades will be characterized by subaperture fill factor and field of regard, enabling downselect of beam steering technologies. BENEFIT: The proposed effort has numerous potential benefits and commercial applications, including (but not limited to): laser communication, space situational awareness, astronomical ground based imaging, laser radar, laser rangefinding, aircraft self defense (both commercial and military), air-base defense, ship self-defense, and tactical precision strike.