Research Summaries

Back Shipboard Laser Analysis: SWAP-C and Operational Capabilities

Fiscal Year 2018
Division Research & Sponsored Programs
Department Naval Research Program
Investigator(s) Cohn, Keith R.
Blau, Joseph A.
Johnson, Bonnie W.
Sponsor NPS Naval Research Program (Navy)
Summary Surface Navy leadership has prioritized the deployment of laser systems out to the fleet as soon as possible. The Navy is developing solid state laser (SSL) systems with power levels varying from approximately 60 kW to 300 kW. Key issues to address are the size, weight, power, and cooling (SWAP-C) requirements for these systems on various ship classes, which will depend upon the laser output power. The goals of this study are to determine the maximum laser power that each class of Navy ship can currently support, what SWAP-C modifications on each class would be needed to increase capability up to 300 kW, and what additional capabilities such a laser would provide to each ship class.
Laser weapons can enhance layered defense concepts for the surface Navy in conjunction with kinetic weapons by addressing close-in targets and the potential threat of UxS swarms or fast attack craft targets. Laser systems can enhance situational awareness, battle damage assessment, and combat identification using their sensing capabilities. Lasers can also be used for “soft-kills” such as laser dazzling which can impair sensors and weapon guidance capabilities on adversary assets. This research will study the integration of laser systems onto a variety of naval surface platforms to include PCs, CGs, DDGs, LCSs, LHA/Ds, and LPDs. Deliverables will include student theses, reports and briefs to the sponsor, detailing SWAP-C requirements and operational benefits for laser systems on each class of ship.
This research will leverage expertise in the NPS Systems Engineering (SE) and Physics (PH) departments. SE researchers will focus on SWAP-C requirements for laser weapon systems on each ship class, while PH researchers will focus on determining the capabilities of these laser systems. However, we anticipate significant overlap in these areas, and the co-PIs will encourage and facilitate continual collaboration between the two departments to accomplish the goals of this study.
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Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal