Gimbal-Integrated Phased-Array Transceiver (GIPAT) for Tactical Applications

Common Path-Common Mode (CPCM) beam director (BD) configurations offer improved jitter performance and high-fidelity knowledge of the laser aimpoint with respect to the tracking line-of-sight, but are high size, weight, and power (SWaP). Alternatively, a bistatic architecture with modern track camera frame rates and image processing techniques might achieve comparable accuracy, providing a beam control solution for on-gimbal, phased-array laser sources while significantly reducing the SWaP of the beam control system. This proposed R&D explores the technical challenges critical to significantly reduce the SWaP of directed energy (DE) beam control systems through the use of an on-gimbal, bistatic BD for tactical-range laser weapon systems (LWS) to replace todayÆs monostatic BD configurations, which rely on large optical benches for image and laser management. This R&D will also define through M&S the most promising on-gimbal bistatic architectures, while identifying measurable performance metrics that should be considered in the potential Phase II effort and future development of a full-scale LWS.