AFRL Perspective on Near Term DE Test and Experimentation

18 Jan 2018

Dr. Kelly D. Hammett, SES Director Integrity  Service  Excellence AFRL Directed Energy Directorate AFRL/RD Mission and Vision

Leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable (directed energy) warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. AFRL/RD’s Role and Challenges

Directed Energy Directorate Weapon The not only DE & EO for MS&A develops technology but also informs AF-level SS developmental planning and assists DE test, experimentation, and acquisition offices.

• AF HEL and HPM roadmaps derived from RD’s S&T and M&S portfolios. AF strategic priorities narrow the vast DE technological tradespace • Experimentation reduces transition risk using DE prototypes to mature concepts of employment BEFORE High Power Electromagnetics key program milestones Systems • Test verifies delivered weapons meet established and vetted warfighter needs AF Roadmap: High Power Microwave Weapons

Advanced HPM concepts for Increasing AFRL Role/Investment future applications HPM on smaller missile

2nd generation HPM system on CALCM-class missile

Ground-based • Build smart waveform HPM for HPM Systems for enhanced range-to-effect from re- useable platforms like the X-47B Airbase Air • Perform cooperative target • Reduce HPM source & engagement & real time BDA Defense Mission pulsed-power SWaP • Optimize waveforms for Key HPM System S&T Disciplines • Target effects enhanced effectiveness • HPM sources • Improve source efficiency • Pulsed Power Prototypes in • Design, develop, & test a multi-shot and • Develop effective Concepts of • Passive BDA development now. multi-target HPM-enabled cruise missile Employment • Numerical design & analysis Experimentation planned FY 18-20 2018 2025 2029+ Increasing Capability – Family of HPM weapons across air platforms AF Roadmap: Laser Weapons

Notional 300 kW-class HEL Increasing AFRL Role/Investment concept on 6th gen aircraft Notional 100 kW-class HEL concept on 4th and 5th gen aircraft Entry Level Capability 10s of kW HEL Ground-based HEL Systems for • Defeat aircraft beyond visual range • Defeat hard targets in flight at range Airbase Air • Hard ground target defeat Defense Mission • Aircraft self-defense: defeat Key Laser System S&T Disciplines moderate salvo of SAMs • Target effects • A-A missions: Defeat missiles • Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing Transitioning NOW! & aircraft at moderate range • Beam Control • A-A Missions: Defeat IR missiles • Laser sources • A-G Missions: Ultra-precise Experimentation • Defeat sensors • Power & thermal management weapon against moderately • Numerical design & analysis planned FY18-20 hard targets 2018-2021 2025 2029+

Reducing SWaP and Increasing Capability for A2/AD Environment

10/16 AF DEW Flight Plan

• Signed by SECAF/CSAF 22 May 2017 • Holistic Approach - AF Enterprise Wide Perspective • Coordinated by all MAJCOMs • Guided by Validated Capability Gaps • Incorporates Intelligence Assessments & Motivation • Operational Use Cases with Transition Opportunity Timeframes • Directs Required Actions

6 Purpose of AF DEW Flight Plan

• Directs activities across the AF to support operationalization of DEWs to deliver key effects to the battlefield; nearly 30 directive actions across the AF Enterprise • Identifies and Documents: – Capability Gaps (where DEW are potential solutions) – Required Investments – Limitations/Constraints – DOTmLPF-P considerations – Test Infrastructure needs – Potential incremental transition timelines/milestones – Life Cycle Acquisition Considerations – Prototyping and Experimentation needs – S&T needs

7 Inbound AFRL Demonstrators and Prototypes

• Demonstrator Laser Weapons System (DLWS) – Supporting T&E since 2016 • Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) – Enters low power test in 2019 – Early developmental target range testing already underway • Next Generation HPM Counter UAS Prototype – Coming 2019 • HPM Counter Cruise Missile – Coming 2019 • Counter Electronics High Power Microwave Advance Missile Project (CHAMP+) – Ready Now These are accompanied by MANY DE prototypes and demonstrators being developed by industry. DEW Experimentation Campaign Strategic Developmental Planning and Experimentation (SDPE) Lead

• Explore how DE weapons will be employed alongside existing: – KE weapons – Sensors – Command and control – Battle management systems • Warfighters at the controls • Using proven DE prototypes

Mission: Mature DE Weapon Concepts of Employment to Inform Program Decisions AF DEW Experimentation Campaign Plan (Pending Capability Development Council (CDC) Approval)

4 Experiments FY 18-20

1. Counter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Senior AF 2. Counter Cruise Missile Leadership Direction 3. Precision Electronic Strike VCSAF chair – 1 Jun 2017 4. Large Aircraft Self Defense

Experimental Approach Hardware Mod and Sim Wargaming Experiments - Red Teaming Signed by SECAF and CSAF - Acquisition/Fielding Cost Analysis 22 May 2017 - Develop/Validate Concepts of Operation RD Support to T&E Infrastructure Development

• DEW Flight Plan charges the 704th TG to develop plan for preparing infrastructure for DE T&E – RD is a charter member of the DE T&E consortium – RD will be part of the DE Combined Test Force (CTF) • Planned stand up at KAFB Spring 2018 – Initiatives for increased DE test infrastructure at WSMR being worked Unique RD Facilities Available to Support DE T&E

Davis Advanced Laser Facility (DALF) Telescope Atmospheric Compensation Satellite Assessment Laboratory (TAC Lab) Center (SatAC)

4,325 acres of land 861,450 square feet of space , NM White Sands Missile Range, NM Starfire Optical Range Maui, Hawaii North Oscura Peak (NOP) (SOR) White Sands Missile Range (WSMR)

AF Maui Optical & High Energy Research and High Energy Microwave Supercomputing Site (AMOS) Technology Facility (HERTF) Laboratory (HEML)

12 RD’s Environmental Laser Test Facility (ELTF)

The ELTF simulates flight or ship vehicle vibration, acoustic, and temperature environments.

DE systems under test can transmit high-energy beam downrange to a diagnostic suite while in an operationally relevant ship or air platform environment. Getting off the Stage

AFRL/RD has been making the future happen for over 40 years and will continue to do so for years to come.

Mature DE systems are arriving requiring enhanced test infrastructure/capacity The T&E community and our industry partners must now seize center stage in order to transition these critical DE capabilities and bring light to the fight.