Development of the EWC for Neutralization of Improvised Explosive Devices and as a General Directed Energy Weapon

We propose to develop a physically robust and portable Directed Energy (DE) system that uses high voltage and high current to neutralize and disable Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) with near certainty. The EWC concept to be investigated will engage IEDs at ranges to 100 m by using a novel and robust electrical energy delivery system described in the proposal. The EWC relies on direct injection of short pulse (< 1 microsecond), high current (1 - 10 kA) into a target area, and into any IED that wholly or partially occupies the volume, including buried or surface-located, through which the current passes. The desired and expected effect is detonation or neutralization of the IED. The EWC will avoid the pitfalls of current and former counter IED systems by utilizing rugged and mature technologies and components to deliver electrical signals with multiplicative or even orders of magnitude greater energy than commonly accepted IED vulnerability thresholds. The proposed Phase I effort will include a preliminary system design and feasibility study, identification of sub-system and component suppliers, and preliminary cost estimate. A pair of proof-of-principle experiments will also be conducted to demonstrate lethality and other key technologies associated with implementation of the EWC.