Shipborne Laser Beam Weapon System for Defence against Cruise Missiles

Abstract

I Sea-skim~ing cruise missiles pose the greatest threat to a surface ship in the present-day war scenario. The convei1tionallclose-in-weapon-systems (CIWSs) are becoming less reliable against these nelw challenges rJquiring extremely fast reaction time. Naval Forces see a high energy laser as a feasible andjeffective directed energy weapon against sea-skimming antiship cruise missiles because of its .ability to deli'ler destructive energy at the speed oflight on to a distant target. The paper compares the technology and capability of deuterium fluoride (DF) and chemical-oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) in effectively performing the role of a shipborne CIWS altainst sea-skimming missiles. Out of these two lasers, it is argued that DF laser wo.uld be more effective a,s a shipborne weapon for defence against sea-skimmin,g cruise missiles. Bes~des the high energy laser as the primary (killing) laser, other sub-systems required in the complete weapon system would be: A beacon laser to sense phase distor'ions in the primary laser, adaptive optics to compen~ate the atmospheric distortions, beam-directing optics, illuminating lasers, IRST sensors, surveillance and tracking radars, interfacing systemsl etd.ani urgent need to develop new technologies to defend the ships against such menacing threats. A high energy laser is one of the most effective close-in-weapon-system (CIWS) to meet such threats. The present article reviews capabilities of two lasers, viz., deuterium fluoride2 (DF) and chcmical-oxygen-iodine laser3 (COIL), in effectively performing the role of a shipborne C;IWS against sea-skimming .hissiles.

Airborne laser sensors and integrated systems

“…In the late 1970s, further programs funded by the U.S. Navy convinced that the threat of missiles launched against a flotilla of ships could be minimised by ship borne DEW's. These efforts resulted in the MidInfrared Advanced Chemical Laser (MIRACL) [105,106], developed by TRW, and the Sea Lite Beam Director (SLBD) developed by Hughes. However, by the time MIRACL was operational, ship borne antimissiles and guns proved to be a more attractive choice due to their lower cost and more mature technology.…”

Study of anti-laser irradiation performance of shot-peened 40CrNiMoA alloy steel

“…In the last few decades, laser weapons [1,2] have become matter of increasing interest due to their high power and directionality, recently playing an important role in high-tech warfare. Since the 1970s, research has been undertaken into the study of metal failure modes induced by super-lasers using short pulses within the order of nanoseconds.…”