These photons are all at the same wavelength and are coherent, meaning the crests and troughs of the light waves are all in lockstep. The word laser is an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. The distinction between them is the wavelength/frequency of the energy. In fact, the megawatt-class Airborne Laser developed in the late 1990s and early 2000s required an entire 747 aircraft to hold the equipment. It can also destroy unshielded electronics. Electronic devices can be shielded by putting conductive metal cages around them; however, enough microwave energy may still get through the shielding to damage the device. [54] They range in size from small, portable handheld units which can be strapped to a person's chest, to larger models which require a mount. The intent was to pre-ionize ignition in aircraft engines and hence serve as anti-aircraft DEW and bring planes down into the reach of the flak. These include: Directed energy weapons have been in development for decades in our nations research and development organizations, national laboratories and industry. However, directed-energy weapons (DEWs) are a reality, and several have already been tested under battlefield conditions. DEW technology is changing faster than international laws and treaties can adapt. Depending on factors such as burst height, microwave frequency, and the shielding around the target electronics, such an e-bomb could have an effective range of several hundred meters. The two U.S. laser weapons systems closest to actual deployment are the Tactical High-Energy Laser (THEL) and the Airborne Laser (ABL). [49] Directed-energy weapons can be used discreetly; radiation does not generate sound and is invisible if outside the visible spectrum. From the Stone Age until the Middle Ages, a weapon's power was limited by the strength of the man wielding it or, in the case of bows, by the strength of material from which it was made. The Sodium Guidestar at the Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate's Starfire Optical Range. The Beacon Illuminator Laser system, which measures and corrects for atmospheric distortion, has also been shipped to Boeing for testing. This information is then transferred to an optical tracking system, which refines the target tracking and positions the beam director. They hurt and kill with electromagnetic power. During the Iraq War, electromagnetic weapons, including high power microwaves, were used by the U.S. military to disrupt and destroy Iraqi electronic systems and may have been used for crowd control. According to a legend, Archimedes created a mirror with an adjustable focal length (or more likely, a series of mirrors focused on a common point) to focus sunlight on ships of the Roman fleet as they invaded Syracuse, setting them on fire. Thus, the deny capability is not permanent because the affected systems can be easily restored to their previous operational condition. Retrieved 2010-01-04. 10 Department of Defense, The National Defense Strategy 2018 (Washington D.C.: Office of the Secretary of Defense, 2018). They hurt and kill with electromagnetic power. They have strong physical and psychological effects and can be used for military and terrorist activities. For instance, the Active Denial System was not ready for deployment when the United States invaded Iraq, in part because the money was not there. Similar in principle to the microwave oven, the weapons produce energies in the megawatt range. They can destroy, degrade or blind many other systems that contain sensors and electronics. Other members of a crowd are unaffected, except by panic when they see people fainting, being sick, or running from the scene with their hands over their ears. Increasing laser power and improving the beam quality can also help to mitigate atmospheric effects in many cases. But with laser weapons, instead of thinking in terms of a laser pointer, the mental image should be more like a powerful, long-range blowtorch! Weapons that go beyond non-lethal intentions and cause 'superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering' may also violate the Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 1977."[87]. A microwave weapon can achieve this result by causing malfunctions within certain relay and processing circuits within the enemy target system. HPM weapon technology is based on the same technology as radar devices, which already have a long history of research and development. X-ray lasers may be possible in the not too distant future. These data are then passed on to the mirror system, which makes appropriate corrections so that, when the COIL fires, maximum energy is transmitted to the target. In addition, when the East German state collapsed, powerful X-ray equipment was found in prisons without there being any apparent reason to justify its presence. Between 200005, a prototype chemical laser successfully destroyed 46 rockets, artillery shells and mortar rounds in flight during field tests. The power levels are driven by prime power generation limitations, and ERPs depend on the antenna design and aperture (i.e., size).6, Almost everyone has probably experienced the lethality of a microwave device when they inadvertently put a metal object into a kitchen microwave oven and watched the sparks fly. This same energy can be applied at higher powers for weapon effects. On 10 October 1984 (STS-41-G), the Terra-3 tracking laser was allegedly aimed at Challenger as it passed over the facility. The ABL is a system that uses a megawatt chemical laser mounted on a modified Boeing 747 to shoot down theater ballistic missiles. The countries abandoned particle-beam weapon research as impracticable.[3]. two directional speakers emitting 16,000 Hz and 16,002 Hz frequencies would produce in the ear two frequencies of 32,002 Hz and 2 Hz. RIVERDALE, Md. 3 How a Fiber Laser Works, SPI Lasers International website, available at . The Phaser | December 6, 2022 Q NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2022. Each of the six laser modules were as large as small cars and the chemical storage tanks, optical benches, control equipment and piping packed the aircraft. and also Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) Symptoms of extremely high and extremely low EMFs and Directed Energy Weapons or (DEW) Please keep in mind that not all symptoms are experienced in an exact order - you may experience the worst symptoms first - or the least of the symptoms in a later stage. However, no military has yet openly deployed HPM weapons. Depending on the type of laser, this means that the weapon can have an almost "endless magazine" of laser bursts. He has pressed for the development of hypersonic weapons by the United States as well as a defense against them. In March 2003, North Korea may have used a ZM-87 to "paint" two U.S. Apache helicopters patrolling the Demilitarized Zone. Microwave weapons can be aimed at computers, electronical devices and persons. Directed energy weapons are among the high-tech arms of the century. Therefore, currently deployed defenses against ballistic missiles will not be effective in defending against these non-ballistic threats. Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Today, solid state electrical (including fiber) and hybrid lasers are being developed that are much lighter and smaller. But again, there are major advances in these areas being made especially with the technology that has been developing in the electric car industry. In 2010, the Airborne Laser shot down two missiles (both solid and liquid propelled) in their boost phase during flight testing which demonstrated the lethality of the laser against missile targets. A year later, testing showed that the ADS could produce effects at ranges beyond current small-arms range. European Parliament In the Star Wars movies, a wide variety of directed energy weapons are depicted, from handheld light sabers to massive, spaceship-mounted laser cannons. HPM weapon technology is based on the same technology as radar devices, which already have a long history of research and development. Its effective beam width is so small that it can be directed at individuals in a riot. Not only could they be used to defend against ballistic missiles in the boost/ascent and midcourse phase, but they could also be used to defend critical space-based assets against enemy anti-satellite attack. While centuries of technological advances have improved the power of these materials, the basic operating principle of chemical-powered weapons ultimately remains the same. The U.S. Army confirmed in June that it is accelerating efforts to field a directed-energy weapon prototype by 2022. In the case of directed energy weapons, there has been significant risk reduction which has been accomplished over several decades. Weapons designed to cause undue suffering are banned under the Geneva Convention, and human rights groups argue that directed-energy weapons raise a host of new legal and moral concerns that do not apply to previous generations of conventional weapons. The soldier returned a short time later to say that the engine would now work and the tourists drove off. The article states: 'The squawk box is highly directional which gives it its appeal. LRAD systems are used for long-range communications in a variety of applications[53] and as a means of non-lethal, non-projectile crowd control. The system consists of several modules: an infrared detection system to detect the missile's launch; the Tracking Illumination Laser (TILL); the Beacon Illuminator Laser (BILL); and the Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL). 1 Directed Energy Weapons. [21]U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, "Active Denial System," fact sheet, September 2005, at http://www.de.afrl.af.mil/Factsheets/ActiveDenial.swf (March 15, 2006). The Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) is an acoustic hailing device developed by Genasys (formerly LRAD Corporation) to send messages and warning tones over longer distances or at higher volume than normal loudspeakers, and as a non-lethal directed-acoustic-energy weapon. , 2018, available at < https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/02/28/soldiers-in-europe-are-now-using-lasers-to-shoot-down-drones/>. One such alternative method was called decomposition (transl. The effects can be latent, durable, highly disruptive and attribution is difficult. Additional information on How Lasers Work, is available on the Lawrence Livermore National Lab website, . If the microwave energy travels through the targets own antenna, dome, or other sensor opening, then this pathway is commonly referred to as the front door.7 On the other hand, if the microwave emissions travel through cracks, seams, trailing wires, metal conduits, or seals of the target, then this pathway is called the back door.8. Directed energy weapon could be responsible for auditory hallucinations, brain injuries. [88], Media related to Directed-energy weapons at Wikimedia Commons, This article is about real uses of directed energy weapons. A directed-energy weapon (DEW) is a ranged weapon that damages its target with highly focused energy, including laser, microwaves and particle ", "Acoustic Weapons - A Prospective Assessment", "World: Europe Dissidents say Stasi gave them cancer", "Long before Havana Syndrome, the U.S. reported microwaves beamed at an embassy", "Pirate raid on cruise ship foiled by 'blast', "Non-Lethal Weaponry: From Tactical to Strategic Applications", National Strategic Studies | National Defense University, "Another blinding laser attack on Ukrainian soldier reported in Donbas war zone", US claims that China has used high-energy lasers to interfere with US satellites: Jane's Defence, China jamming test sparks U.S. satellite concerns: USA Today, Beijing secretly fires lasers to disable US satellites: The Telegraph, China Attempted To Blind U.S. Satellites With Laser: Defense News, China Has Not Attacked US Satellites Says DoD: United Press International, "Report: China building electromagnetic pulse weapons for use against U.S. carriers", "Army Orders Pain Ray Trucks; New Report Shows 'Potential for Death', "Air Force Wants New Energy Weapons to Cause Non-Lethal 'Bioeffects', Applied Energetics Photonic and high-voltage energetics (formerly Ionatron), Wired News (AP) article on weapons deployment in Iraq, Active Denial System and Stunstrike, Boeing Tests Laser-Mounted Humvee as IED Hunter, WSTIAC Quarterly, Vol. A laser weapon could target not only a single vehicle in a convoy, but also a specific spot on that vehicle (e.g., the engine) and disable it without injuring the passengers. DE warfare is military action involving the use of DE weapons, devices, and countermeasures to either cause direct damage or destruction of adversary equipment, facilities, and personnel, or to determine, exploit, reduce, or prevent hostile use of the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) through damage, destruction, and disruption, After decades of research and investment, we believe these advanced directed-energy applications will soon be ready for the battlefield to help protect people, assets and infrastructure. Thomas Bussing, Raytheon Advanced Missile Systems vice president, said in a news release accompanying the announcement. However, current research focuses on using them as a means of nonlethal area defense and as anti-electronic weapons rather than as "death rays.". The air-launched uses scramjets or rockets to power it throughout flight. Lasers are becoming smaller and more powerful. [45] The energy spikes are tailored to enter missiles through antennae or sensor apertures where they can fool guidance systems, scramble computer memories or even burn out sensitive electronic components. Adversaries are not waiting to develop directed energy weapons. [16]U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, "High-Power Microwaves," fact sheet, September 2002, at http://www.de.afrl.af.mil/Factsheets/HPM.swf (March 15, 2006). The laser diodes, fiber amplifiers, battery and power management, thermal control, and optical systems are also much more advanced. Informally, the weapon is also called the heat ray since it works by heating the surface of targets, such as the skin of targeted human beings. The combination of technology advancements improving lethality and reducing SWaP in high energy laser technology and the advent of threats such as hypersonic weapons for which kinetic solutions are problematic has resulted in high energy lasers and directed energy weapons more generally being pursued vigorously across the services consistent with the National Defense Strategy.10. At distances of 50200 meters (160660ft), the sound waves could act on organ tissues and fluids by repeatedly compressing and releasing compressive resistant organs such as the kidneys, spleen, and liver. [3], China,[4][5][6][7] France,[8][9][10][11] Germany,[8][9] the United Kingdom,[12][13] Russia,[14][15][16] India,[17][18][19] and Pakistan[20][21][22] are also developing military-grade directed-energy weapons, while Iran[23][24][25][26] and Turkey claim to have them in active service. These high-speed missiles fly at Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) and greater. (Courtesy photo), The High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator, or HEL MD, is the result of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command research (U.S. Army), The premier professional military and academic publishing house. ", Press release, "Airborne Laser Progress Continues as Northrop Grumman Runs Full-Power COIL Tests, Delivers Beacon Illuminator Laser," Northrop Grumman Corporation, January 4, 2006, at, SPG Media, "ABL YAL 1A Airborne Laser, USA," at, Press release, "Boeing Receives Aircraft for Laser Gunship Program," Boeing, January 23, 2006, at. There is no injury to the target individual. Turning to the air, the United States spent billions of dollars to develop and deploy stealth technology for its fighters and bombers to avoid radar detection and being targeted by surface to air missiles. Reversing the order of events in retelling the story created a "tale" where tourists car engine stopped first and then were approached by a German soldier who told them that they had to wait. As with all new weapons, the DOD General Counsel reviews each DEW for compliance with international and U.S. laws before the Pentagon is allowed to field it. The Russian Stupor is reported to have a range of two kilometers, covering a 20-degree sector; it also suppresses the drone's cameras. Electrolasers make use of laser bloom, a normally undesired effect. The short, intense bursts of energy produced by HPM devices damage equipment without injuring personnel. Moreover, cheap countermeasures can be applied to existing missiles. It is relatively close to deployment. However, no military has yet openly deployed HPM weapons. The Symptoms of Being Attacked by Directed Energy Weapons DEW symptoms: Causes headaches, intense psychological and physiological stress in that you can feel all your insides. One of the greatest attributes of directed energy weapons is that they operate at the speed of light. In addition, the Air Force has partnered with the Navy in the development of a high-power RF weapon called High-power Joint Electromagnetic Non-Kinetic Strike (HiJENKS) capable of attacking electronics, communications and computer networks. A prototype ADS system mounted on a Humvee went into testing in August 2005. It was capable of damaging or destroying fast attack boats, unmanned aerial vehicles and was used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). One problem that affects laser beam strength is a phenomenon known as "blooming," which occurs when the laser beam heats the atmosphere through which it is passing, turning the air into plasma. The destructive power of directed energy weapons (their lethality) derives from the amount of energy transferred to the target over time. Because of the strategic imperative to protect U.S. carrier battlegroups to enable us to project power, the U.S. Navy is following this prototyping effort with a much broader Navy Laser Family of Systems or NLFoS program, which will put the Navy on a path to develop and deploy lasers ranging from low power laser dazzlers to much higher power lasers capable of destroying anti-ship and high-speed cruise missiles. First up is the Multi-Mission High Energy Laser, a 50-killowatt retrofit to a modified Stryker vehicle, which is expected to be operational in 2023. 14 Oriana Powlyk, Raytheon Directed-Energy Weapons Down Drones in Air Force Demonstration, Military.com, May 1, 2019, available at . Lasers are becoming smaller and more powerful. The laser is being built and will be tested in mid-2006. "Raytheon focuses on non-lethal weapons", Andrew Johnson. In the weapons version, the microwave energy effects or lethality depends on the power and range to target, but the energy beams tend to be larger and not as sensitive to jitter as is the case for the high energy lasers. The United States must realize that it has to resource the development and fielding of these capabilities. They are real and are maturing rapidly. [2]David E. Fisher, A Race on the Edge of Time: Radar-The Decisive Weapon of WWII (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1988), pp. This article will examine answers to these questions. DEW technology and its enabling infrastructure have matured to the point that DEWs can begin moving from the lab to the battlefield. While DEWs are not a panacea, the armed services should fully support research and development of these useful technologies. Laser beams also lose energy through absorption or scattering if fired through dust, smoke, or rain. When they return to their normal or ground state, the electrons emit photons (particles of light). 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