Navy asks Envisioneering for help in developing electromagnetic weapons for use against ships and pirates

Sept. 27, 2024
Efforts involve countermeasures in the RF, millimeter wave, electro-optical, and infrared bands to counter small boat swarm attacks.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Navy researchers needed help in developing electromagnetic weapons for use against anti-ship threats, small-boat terrorists, military swarm attacks, high-seas pirates, and aircraft. They found a solution from Envisioneering Inc. in Alexandria, Va.

Officials of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington announced a $99 million five-year contract to Envisioneering on Wednesday for the High Power Electromagnetic Systems Development, Application, and Test project.

Envisioneering experts will help support NRL efforts at designing prototype electromagnetic weapons systems and evaluating RF and millimeter wave effects and technologies. One primary focus is on ship-defense directed-energy technologies like high power radio frequency (HPRF), high energy and high power lasers, and electrostatic discharge (ESD) systems.

Navy researchers need vessel-stopping technologies for use against large and small ships; sensor-blinding and damage effects; protection for electronic devices in naval and civilian infrastructure; and defenses against high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons.

Related: Navy modernizing maritime forces

Efforts involve countermeasures in the RF, millimeter wave, electro-optic, and infrared bands that address missile threats, hidden explosives, UAVs, and small boat swarm attacks.

Envisioneering will provide research, systems engineering, test and evaluation, and contractor management for projects in high-power microwaves to counter electronic sensors; UAV detection and defeat; anti-ship cruise missiles threat analysis and evaluating the use of electromagnet weapons against those threats.

The company will provide research personnel in directed-energy development and test; electronic attack; high-power microwaves; directed-energy sources; high-power microwaves; directed energy; and ultra-short-pulse lasers.

For more information contact Envisioneering online at https://envisioneeringinc.com, or the Naval Research Laboratory at www.nrl.navy.mil.

About the Author

John Keller | Editor-in-Chief

John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.

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