Directed Energy and Electric Weapon Systems

Directed Energy and Electric Weapon System under the Navy's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) budget activity aims to transition Directed Energy and Electric Weapon Systems (DE&EWS) technology from Science and Technology (S&T) research to the Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction phase. This transition ultimately leads to acquisition initiation for the Surface/Subsurface Navy. The program includes multiple breakthrough technologies such as laser weapons, electromagnetic launch of projectiles, high power radio frequency systems, and other capabilities. Specific projects within this program, such as Project 2731 (High Energy Laser Counter ASCM Project), focus on defeating Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles (ASCMs) with a laser weapon system by addressing technical challenges like atmospheric turbulence, target acquisition and identification, target tracking, aim point maintenance, automatic aim point placement, and jitter control.

Project 3402 - Surface Navy Laser Weapon System (SNLWS) supports the National Defense Strategy by delivering proven laser weapon capability to the Fleet as part of the Navy Laser Family of Systems (NLFoS) initiative. It aims to provide near-term laser weapon capabilities to the fleet and develop and validate warfighting requirements for laser weapons to address a variety of threats. Additionally, it supports industry-developed and government-integrated capability to the Fleet in a short timeframe while leveraging mature technology.

Project 5898 - Directed Energy Components for High Energy Lasers supports Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program efforts for improving the production capability of the industrial base to produce Laser Weapon Beam Director (LWBD) components and sub-systems. This project aims to reduce production lead times of Laser Weapon System Optics, improve quality, and reduce production times of Fast Steering Mirror (FSM) and deformable mirrors.

Project 9823 - Lasers for Navy Applications focuses on developing near-term directed energy shipboard Counter-Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C-ISR) capabilities to dazzle Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) and other platforms that address urgent operational needs of the Fleet.

In summary, these projects within Program PE 0603925N aim to advance directed energy and electric weapon systems technology from research to acquisition initiation for the Surface/Subsurface Navy while addressing specific technical challenges related to defeating ASCMs with laser weapon systems, providing near-term laser weapon capabilities to the fleet, improving industrial base production capability for directed energy components, and developing shipboard directed energy capabilities for C-ISR needs.