Advanced Weapons Technology

Advanced Weapons Technology under the Air Force's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation budget activity, aims to develop, integrate, and demonstrate directed energy (DE) weapon technologies for potential application on Air Force platforms. This includes high energy laser (HEL), high power microwaves (HPM), and other unconventional weapon generation and transmission technologies to support a wide range of Air Force applications. The program also focuses on developing a corresponding susceptibility, vulnerability, and lethality database for directed energy weapons. Additionally, it coordinates efforts through the Department of Defense Science and Technology Executive Committee process to harmonize efforts and eliminate duplication.

Project 633151 within this program specifically focuses on the development, integration, demonstration, and detailed technical assessment of high energy laser devices, advanced imaging, and beam control technologies needed for applications such as force protection, force application, precision engagement, and aircraft protection. It also includes vulnerability assessments and target effect testing for laser system concept assessments.

Project 633152 concentrates on developing and demonstrating high power microwave and other unconventional electromagnetic field generation and transmission technologies that can be integrated into future weapon systems to support a wide range of Air Force missions such as air base defense or the damage/destruction of an adversary's electronic infrastructure. This project also provides inputs to the susceptibility, vulnerability, and lethality databases used across the Department of Defense to understand thresholds for scalable effects of directed energy weapons.

Overall, the goals of these projects are aligned with advancing technology development efforts in directed energy weapons for potential application in various Air Force missions while ensuring coordination with other defense entities to avoid duplication of efforts.