Selected Directed Energy Research and Development for
U.S. Air Force Aircraft Applications
A Workshop Summary
Robert J. Katt, Rapporteur
Air Force Studies Board
Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, D.C.
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001
NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.
This is a report of work supported by Grant FA9550-12-1-0413 between the U.S. Air Force and the National Academy of Sciences. Any views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.
ISBN-13: 978-0-309-29261-0
ISBN-10: 0-309-29261-1
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine
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COMMITTEE ON ASSESSMENT OF DIRECTED ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR U.S. AIR FORCE APPLICATIONS: A WORKSHOP
RONALD E. KEYS, RK Solution Enterprises, LLC, Chair
WILLIAM L. BAKER, Independent Consultant, Sandia Park, New Mexico
JACQUELINE G. GISH, Independent Consultant, Glendale, California
MATT L. MLEZIVA, Wildwood Strategic Concepts, LLC
THOMAS E. ROMESSER, Independent Consultant, Torrance, California
DAVID J. SCOTT, Independent Consultant, Payton, Colorado
FRANK J. SERNA, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
ANDEW M. SESSLER, E.O Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Staff
CARTER W. FORD, Program Officer
MARGUERITE E. SCHNEIDER, Administrative Coordinator
AIR FORCE STUDIES BOARD
GREGORY S. MARTIN, GS Martin Consulting, Chair
BRIAN A. ARNOLD, Raytheon Company
CLAUDE M. BOLTON, JR., Defense Acquisition University
STEVEN R.J. BRUECK, University of New Mexico
THOMAS J. BURNS, Science Applications International Corporation
FRANK CAPPUCCIO, Cappuccio and Associates, LLC
BLAISE J. DURANTE, U.S. Air Force (retired)
DONALD C. FRASER, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory (retired)
MICHAEL J. GIANELLI, The Boeing Company (retired)
DANIEL HASTINGS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
RAYMOND E. JOHNS, JR., U.S. Air Force (retired)
PAUL G. KAMINSKI, Technovation, Inc.
ROBERT LATIFF, R. Latiff Associates
NANCY G. LEVESON, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MARK J. LEWIS, IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute
LESTER L. LYLES, The Lyles Group
MATT L. MLEZIVA, Wildwood Strategic Concepts
C. KUMAR N. PATEL, Pranalytica, Inc.
GERALD F. PERRYMAN, JR., Independent Consultant
RICHARD V. REYNOLDS, The VanFleet Group, LLC
J. DANIEL STEWART, University of Tennessee
STARNES E. WALKER, University of Hawaii System
DAVID A. WHELAN, The Boeing Company
REBECCA WINSTON, Winston Strategic Management Consulting
Staff
TERRY J. JAGGERS, Director
DIONNA ALI, Research Assistant
JESSICA R. BROKENBURR, Financial Assistant
GREGORY EYRING, Senior Program Officer
CARTER W. FORD, Program Officer
CHRIS JONES, Financial Manager
MARGUERITE E. SCHNEIDER, Administrative Coordinator
Acknowledgment of Reviewers
This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Council’s (NRC’s) Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their review of this report:
William L. Baker, Independent Consultant, Sandia Park, New Mexico,
Ken Bruner, U.S. Pacific Command,
John H. Hammond, Independent Consultant, Fairfax, Virginia,
Lester L. Lyles, The Lyles Group,
Matt L. Mleziva, Wildwood Strategic Concepts, LLC, and
Julia M. Phillips, Sandia National Laboratories.
Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the views presented at the workshop, nor did they see the final draft of the workshop summary before its release. The review of this workshop summary was overseen by Robert A. Frosch, Harvard University and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Appointed by the NRC, he was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this workshop summary was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this summary rests entirely with the author and the institution.
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ACRONYMS
ACC | Air Combat Command |
AFRL | Air Force Research Laboratory |
AoA | Analysis of Alternatives |
ARDEC | Armaments Research, Development and Engineering Center |
C-RAM | counter rocket, artillery, and mortar |
CHAMP | Counter-electronics HPM Advanced Missile Project |
COCOM | Combatant Command |
CONOPS | operational concept(s) |
DARPA | Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency |
DEW | directed-energy weapon |
DIRCM | Directed Infrared Countermeasures |
DoD | Department of Defense |
DRFM | digital radio frequency memory |
EO | electro-optical |
HEL | high-energy laser |
HEL-JTO | High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office |
HELLADS | High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System |
HPM | high-powered microwave |
IED | improvised explosive device |
IR | infrared |
IRCM | infrared countermeasures |
IRST | infrared search and track |
JCIDS | Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System |
JCTD | Joint Capability Technology Demonstration |
JHPSSL | Joint High Power Solid State Laser |
LADAR | laser direction and range-finding |
LAIRCM | Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures |
MAJCOM | major command |
MDA | Missile Defense Agency |
NKCE | non-kinetic counter-electronics |
OSD | Office of the Secretary of Defense |
R&D | research and development |
RDECOM | Research and Development Command |
RELI | Robust Electric Laser Initiative |
RPA | remotely piloted aircraft |
S&T | science and technology |