Energia-aseet: laser ym.

[ctg]

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) delivered to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering OUSD (R&E) a new benchmark: a tactically-relevant electric 300 kW-class laser, the most powerful laser that Lockheed Martin has produced to date. This 300 kW-class laser is ready to integrate with the DOD demonstration efforts including the U.S. Army's Indirect Fires Protection Capability-High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL) Demonstrator laser weapon system.

The OUSD (R&E) selected Lockheed Martin in 2019 to scale its spectral beam combined high energy laser architecture to the 300 kW-class level as part of the High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative (HELSI), and the team recently achieved that milestone ahead of schedule.

"Lockheed Martin increased the power and efficiency and reduced the weight and volume of continuous-wave high energy lasers which reduces risk for future fielding efforts of high power laser weapon systems," said Rick Cordaro, vice president, Lockheed Martin Advanced Product Solutions.

The HELSI laser will support demonstration efforts with the Army's IFPC-HEL, which is scheduled for laboratory and field testing this year.

This recent HELSI delivery milestone also exemplifies Lockheed Martin's commitment to 21st Century Security, developing advanced technologies that provide speed, agility, and mission solutions that help ensure the U.S. and its allies are always prepared for what's ahead.

Lockheed Martin's 300 kW-class high-energy laser design and build was enabled by significant investments in directed energy technology and the contributions of the company's dedicated team in Washington state and Owego, New York. The team is applying more than 40 years of experience researching, designing, developing, and capturing electromagnetic energy and elevating its power to create innovative 21st century security solutions.

Lockheed Martin delivers its highest powered laser to date to US Department Of Defense

Bothell WA (SPX) Sep 16, 2022 - Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) delivered to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering OUSD (R&E) a new benchmark: a tactically-relevant electric 300 kW-class laser, the

www.spacewar.com

 

[ctg]

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Motherboard: Everyone wants to be able to just zap a bug and have it go away. But now, thanks to a recent development from Ildar Rakhmatulin, a research associate at Heriot-Watt University interested in machine learning and engineering, this dream is now a reality. In the study -- which was conducted last year but published in Oriental Insects last week -- Rakhmatulin and his co-authors used a laser insect control device automated with machine vision to perform a series of experiments on domiciliary cockroaches. They were able to not only detect cockroaches at high accuracy but also neutralize and deter individual insects at a distance up to 1.2 meters. This is a follow-up of sorts to earlier projects, in which he used a Raspberry Pi and lasers to zap mosquitoes. However, for this project, Rakhmatulin used a different kind of computer which allowed for more precision in detecting the bug.

"I started using a Jetson Nano that allowed me to use deep learning technologies with higher accuracy to detect an object," Rakhmatulin explained. The Jetson Nano is a small computer that can run machine learning algorithms. The computer processes a digital signal from two cameras to determine the cockroach's position. It transmits that information to a galvanometer (a machine that measures electric current), which changes the direction of the laser to shoot the target. According to the paper, Rakhmatulin tried this configuration at different power levels for the laser. At a lower power level, he found that he could influence the behavior of roaches by simply triggering their flight response with a laser; this way, they could potentially be trained to not shelter in a particular dark area. At a higher power level, the cockroaches were effectively "neutralized," in the paper's language -- in other words, killed. "I use very cheap hardware and cheap technology and it's open source," Rakhmatulin said. "All sources are uploaded in my GitHub and see how to do it and use it. If it can damage cockroaches, it can also damage other pests in agriculture."

It's not quite ready for household use though. "It's not recommended because it's a little dangerous," Rakhmatulin said. "Lasers can damage not only cockroaches but your eyes."

Scientists Create AI-Powered Laser Turret That Kills Cockroaches - Slashdot

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Motherboard: Everyone wants to be able to just zap a bug and have it go away. But now, thanks to a recent development from Ildar Rakhmatulin, a research associate at Heriot-Watt University interested in machine learning and engineering, this dream is now...

science.slashdot.org

 

[ctg]

Directed energy does not emit a large red laser, nor does it make a loud noise, and if done right, the target will simply fall out of the sky, not explode in brilliant shards of light, set to a John Williams score. Katie Davis Skelley, U.S. DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center Public Affairs, explains.

But that is not to say that directed energy is not making remarkable strides in record time. Take Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense, or DE M-SHORAD. The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center and the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office have joined with industry partners to build the next-generation laser weapon. And they did it in less than two years.

“DE M-SHORAD is a 50-kilowatt class laser weapon system on a Stryker vehicle,” said Damon Templet, DEVCOM AvMC software lead for DE M-SHORAD. “In simple terms, we have an onboard thermal and power system that dissipates heat and recharges the system’s batteries. The laser is fired off the batteries. The beam comes out of a roof-mounted beam director. If you grew up on ‘Star Wars,’ it’s a little disappointing to learn that the beam makes no sound and isn’t visible to the eye. A tracking system puts the laser beam on a target and then the optimal aimpoint is maintained until the track is neutralized.”

The system does not pull a trailer nor have a dedicated support vehicle. Everything needed is mounted on the truck, which gives it an agility advantage over older systems. Another key component of DE M-SHORAD is that it is more cost-effective than firing multiple high-dollar missiles at low-value targets.

DE M-SHORAD directed energy weapon system more cost-effective than firing multiple high dollar missiles at low value targets | weapons defence industry military technology UK | analysis focus army defence military industry army

DE M-SHORAD directed energy weapon system more cost-effective than firing multiple high dollar missiles at low value targets

www.armyrecognition.com

Huntsville, Alabama, is quickly becoming a hub for directed energy development. For Templet, DE M-SHORAD isn’t just a novel weapon system, it is very personal. Before he was an engineer, he was a soldier. “I know how horrible it feels as a soldier to watch enemy munitions fly over your position, or explode over your head and there’s nothing you can do about it,” Templet said. “At a DE event a few years ago, young soldiers told me about attempting to fire M16s at enemy drones. DE provides an extra layer of protection to our Warfighters. We owe them that.”

 

[ctg]

100 kW IronBeam

RAFAEL’s IRON BEAM is a 100kW class High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) is the first laser system of its kind to have been documented intercepting a range of aerial threats. It is on track to become the first operational laser-based defense system that effectively intercepts a wide spectrum of threats – including RAM and UAVs as well as swarms of mini-UAVs – with pinpoint accuracy from a range of a few hundred yards to up to several miles. IRON BEAM is designed to complement the world-renowned IRON DOME air defense system, bolstering RAFAEL's multi-layered defense portfolio.

The Iron Beam is designed to intercept a wide range of threats such as RAM and UAVs from a distance of a few hundred meters to up to several kilometers. The system can be also integrated into multiple platforms such as combat vehicles, aerial systems, or ships.

In April 2022, Rafael announced that the Iron Beam was successfully tested and has conducted interception of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), mortars, rockets, and anti-tank missiles during various scenarios.

Rafael presents its Iron Beam High Energy Laser Weapon during AUSA 2022 | AUSA 2022 News | Defense Security global news industry army year 2022 | Archive News year

Rafael presents during AUSA 2022 its Iron Beam High Energy Laser Weapon

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[nofate]

"During a trial at the MOD’s Hebrides Range, the DragonFire laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system achieved the UK’s first high-power firing of a laser weapon against aerial targets."

Advanced future military laser achieves UK first

A military laser which could boost the UK Armed Forces with greater accuracy while reducing the reliance on high-cost ammunition has reached its next milestone.

www.gov.uk