TABLE OF CONTENTS In recent years, several ballistic missile intercept concepts have been proposed as part of the overall ballistic missile defense ( BMD) program. One such program was the midcourse concept. The missile defense technologies pursued presently include (a) the airborne laser ( ABL), (b) the space-based laser ( SBL), (c) the sea-based kinetic-energy kill concept, and (d) the space-based hit-to-kill experiment. The latter two are being considered to serve as hedges in case the directed-energy ( DE) approaches fail.
Nevertheless, DE is considered to be the "new frontier," in that it provides military planners a new capability in warfare: to be able to fight at the speed of light. Also, the Air Force intends to put a high-power microwave ( HPM) weapon on an advanced version of its unmanned strike aircraft by the year 2012. Moreover, the U.S. Congress wants DE weapons technology and the UCAV to make up one-third of the strike inventory by 2010. Previously, attention has been focused on airborne chemical lasers to destroy ballistic missiles. The Navy's DD-X ship design will use DE weapons that can destroy supersonic antiship missiles. However, for the near term, interest is turning to smaller, cheaper solid-state HEL and HPM weapons. A solid-state laser generates pulsed power that creates an energy buildup that damages targets made of relatively soft, easy-to-melt metals such as aluminum and other lightweight materials used in missiles. UCAVs equipped...
