Directed energy weapons
Directed energy (DE) weapons are systems that use directed energy primarily as a direct means to disable, damage, or destroy adversary equipment, facilities, and personnel.
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Directed energy weapon Directed energy weapons
WeaponDirected energy (DE) weapons are systems that use directed energy primarily as a direct means to disable, damage, or destroy adversary equipment, facilities, and personnel.
The US Department of Defense’s Joint Publication 3–13 Electronic Warfare, describes directed energy (DE) weapons as
Directed energy weapons (DEWs) transfer a concentrated amount of energy in a short period of time to produce both lethal and non-lethal destructive effects. Examples include cutting through steel, aluminum, and other materials in a matter of seconds to cause pressurized vessels (missile propellant and oxidizer tanks) to explode or destroyingdestroy, degradingdegrade, andand/or blindingblind systems containing sensors and electronics.
Types of DEW, include:
The following are types of DEW:
- high-power microwave devices, and
Deployable DEWs present multiple challenges including:
- High Energy Laser and Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) - Lockheed—Lockheed Martin
- High Energy Laser Weapon System 2 (HELWS2 or H2) - Raytheon—Raytheon
- Laser Weapon System Demonstrator (LWSD) - Northop—Northop Grumman
- Iron Beam - RafaelBeam—Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
- Dragonfire - MBDA
- Dragonfire—MBDA
- Counter-Electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project (CHAMP) - Boeing—Boeing
Directed energy weapons (DEWs) have the potential to defend against several types of threats with great precision and minimal collateral damage, at minimal cost per engagement. These potential advantages have made directed energy a modernization priority for the US Department of Defense with the goal of maturing technology to deployable forms.
Directed energy weapons (DEWs) transfer a concentrated amount of energy in a short period of time to produce both lethal and non-lethal destructive effects. Examples include cutting through steel, aluminum, and other materials in a matter of seconds to cause pressurized vessels (missile propellant and oxidizer tanks) to explode or destroying, degrading, and blinding systems containing sensors and electronics.
DEW demand has seen rapid growth globally with the value of DEWs reaching $4.1bn in 2020, with the US having the highest market share (41.6%), followed by China, France, Germany, and the UK. Between the fiscal year 2017 and 2019, the US doubled its military expenditure on DEWs from $535m to $1.1bn.
DEWs include:
Types of DEW, include:
High Energy Laser (HEL) technology development and advancements in hardware are making laser weapon systems increasingly viable.
Potential benefits of DEWs include the ability to defend against multiple types of threats with precision, minimal collateral damage, and minimal cost per engagement. These potential advantages have made directed energy a modernization priority for the US Department of Defense with the goal of maturing technology to deployable forms.
DEW demand has seen rapid growth globally with the value of DEWs reaching $4.1bn in 2020, with the US having the highest market share (41.6%), followed by China, France, Germany, and the UK. Between the fiscal year 2017 and 2019, the US doubled its military expenditure on DEWs from $535m to $1.1bn.
Existing DEWs focus on defensive functions such as protection of critical facilities and against missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), rockets, and naval attacks. Future developments are expected to focus on expanding defensive functions, particularly lasers, which provide significant advantages over traditional weapons such as precision engagement, low-cost per shot, logistical benefits, and low detectability.
Deployable DEWs present multiple challenges including:
- Delivering the required energy density
- Preventing performance degradation from age, misuse, or contamination
- Monitoring performance requires sensors capable of working in high power ranges
- Dissipating the significant heat generated during operation
- Controlling the beam to strike desired targets
DEWs require significant power levels to be effective (>50 kilowatts). Destroying anti-ship cruise missiles requires a beam of 500 kilowatts and power demands in the megawatts.
- High Energy Laser and Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) - Lockheed Martin
- High Energy Laser Weapon System 2 (HELWS2 or H2) - Raytheon
- Laser Weapon System Demonstrator (LWSD) - Northop Grumman
- Iron Beam - Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
- Dragonfire - MBDA
- Counter-Electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project (CHAMP) - Boeing
Directed-energy weapon Directed energy weapon
Weapon that transfers energy to a target to damage it
Weapon systems that use directed energy primarily as a direct means to disable, damage, or destroy adversary equipment, facilities, and personnel.
The US Department of Defense’s Joint Publication 3–13 Electronic Warfare, describes directed energy (DE) weapons as
a system using DE primarily as a direct means to disable, damage or destroy adversary equipment, facilities, and personnel.
Directed energy weapons (DEWs) have the potential to defend against several types of threats with great precision and minimal collateral damage, at minimal cost per engagement. These potential advantages have made directed energy a modernization priority for the US Department of Defense with the goal of maturing technology to deployable forms.
DEW demand has seen rapid growth globally with the value of DEWs reaching $4.1bn in 2020, with the US having the highest market share (41.6%), followed by China, France, Germany, and the UK. Between the fiscal year 2017 and 2019, the US doubled its military expenditure on DEWs from $535m to $1.1bn.
DEWs include:
- high-energy lasers
- high-power radio frequency devices
- high-power microwave devices, and
- charged particle beam weapons
- neutral particle beam weapons
High Energy Laser (HEL) technology development and advancements in hardware are making laser weapon systems increasingly viable.
Existing DEWs focus on defensive functions such as protection of critical facilities and against missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), rockets, and naval attacks. Future developments are expected to focus on expanding defensive functions, particularly lasers, which provide significant advantages over traditional weapons such as precision engagement, low-cost per shot, logistical benefits, and low detectability.
The following are companies and research entities involved in the development of DE weapon systems:
Directed-energy weapon
Weapon that transfers energy to a target to damage it
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