Military eyes prototype megawatt-class laser weapon for ballistic missile defense in next seven years
FORT BELVOIR, Va. – U.S. missile-defense researchers will brief industry later this month on a project to build a prototype megawatt-class laser weapon within the next seven years that can destroy incoming ballistic missiles, potentially in all phases of flight.
The Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) Laser Scaling project of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) will develop a prototype laser weapon system that will weigh no more than about four tons, including the laser, electric power, and thermal management subsystems. The project's focus is on reducing size and weight, and increasing power, electrical-to-optical efficiency, beam quality, and lasing runtime.
MDA officials will conduct industry briefings on the Laser Scaling project for ballistic missile defense from 9 to 11 a.m. on 23 April 2019, followed by one-on-one meetings from noon to 5 p.m., at MDA headquarters at 5700 18th St., Building 245, Fort Belvoir, Va.
MDA officials issued a request for information last week (HQ0277-19-RFI-0001) for the BMDS Laser Scaling project in efforts to understand industry’s ability to demonstrate a 1,000-kilowatt electrically pumped laser sometime between 2025 and 2026.
Researchers also are interested in electrical power and thermal management subsystems for the prototype, and are not yet providing a specific platform or strategic mission. It is to be a ground demonstrator laser with technology maturation and light-weight engineering paths to potential future applications.
MDA officials envision a laser weapon able to shoot down incoming ballistic missiles with near diffraction-limited beam quality at 1 megawatt of laser power with a vertical beam quality of 1.1 at 0.25 lambda/D. It should have a laser wavelength shorter than one micron to offer high intensity on the target at long ranges.
The system should have a mass efficiency of two to four kilograms per kilowatt, including electric power and thermal management. Early prototypes may have a lower mass efficiency as long as they have clearly defined paths to increase mass efficiency.
The electrical-to-optical efficiency goal is at least 48 percent, and continuous laser shot durations must be from 2 to 60 seconds. The prototype must have an energy storage system able to supply power for two minutes at full power without recharging.
Related: Laser weapons show their stuff in real-world conditions
Industry-day briefings will be on 23 April 2019 at MDA headquarters, 5700 18th St., Building 245, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5573. To register for the briefings, email Harris Brown at [email protected] no later than 17 April 2019.
Request one-on-one meetings by email to Rachel Gillentine at [email protected] no later than 17 April 2019.
Email responses to the MDA BMDS Laser Scaling request for information no later than 5 June 2019 to Joseph Bonometti at [email protected], with a copy to Harris Brown at [email protected].
For questions or concerns telephone Joseph Bonometti at 505-853-4324, or Harris Brown at 505-853-3307. More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/notices/d476336c92b54a0c3d5c92d508e34978.
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John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
