Directed Energy Technologies; Tools to Enable Effects – Based Operations Dr. Hank Dubin ISMOR 2005

Context of Effects-Based Operations Influence people to change their minds Examples: -Threaten - Scare - Bribe - Intimidate - Encourage - Incapacitate - Convince

The 5 “Ds” - Deny - Disrupt - Degrade - Destroy - Dissuade

Directed Energy as a Tool - High Power Microwave - High Energy Lasers

Directed Energy Technology Mechanisms Examples: - Waveforms - Power Management - Antenna or Optics Beam Shaping - Ultra-precision Targeting for Lasers - Speed of light - Target Specific Materials or Vulnerable Components - Exploiting Target Orientation

Crowd Control Examples - Non-damaging skin sting - Make things too hot to touch - Set fire to items near by - Injure - Kill

Infrastructure Examples - Television Antenna Tower Scenario - Set Fire to Storage Facility (from long stand-off distance)

Unexploded Ordnance Examples - Explode Ordnance - Deflagrate Ordnance - Clear Mines

Aviation Examples - Craze Canopy - Disable Radar - Degrade Flight Controls - Burn Hole in Fuselage - Burn Through Fuel Tank - Deny Communications

Avoiding Fratricide - Laser System Issues - Predictive Avoidance - satellites - Places severe constraints on laser operations and testing - Can be expected to become a larger problem as the number of satellites increases - Spontaneous Avoidance - Complicates the Avoidance problem - May also pose a hazard to friendly air and ground systems - HPM System Issues - HPM weapon is less precise than a laser - Beamwidth - Sidelobes - Anomalous Propagation (“ducting”) can result in unintended effects at long range

Battlefield Considerations -Treaties and Conventions - No blinding - No interfering with satellites - Rules of Engagement - Generally little collateral damage - Unintended consequences - Laser scattering from reflective surfaces - Flammable materials burn out of control - Ground-based HELs have the potential to eliminate the use of low-flying aircraft - New Combat Developments - Tactics, Techniques, Procedures - Training - Safety

Summary Directed Energy Systems: Can Be Very Versatile – Dissuade, Deny, Disrupt, Degrade, Destroy Provide Leap-ahead Capabilities for Many Missions Must Operate in Cooperation with Other Systems, e.g. Extant Weapons, Battle Command, Sensors and C4ISR Require Testing for Development, Training, Operations and Safety Can Augment Operational Effects Directed Energy Systems Have Potential to Revolutionize the Battlefield