Project Raytheon PHASER: a fantastic weapon in trial operation
In the United States, work continues on the development of "directed energy" weapons systems. One of the main directions is the development of systems that hit the target with directional microwave radiation. Raytheon’s PHASER project has already reached a new stage: in the near future it is planned to build another prototype for military tests.
Complex PHASER in position
23 September Pentagon published data on recent agreements and contracts. According to this report, Raytheon Missile Systems received an order to build a new prototype of the PHASER complex. Product delivery is expected within the next few months. The prototype and its operation will cost 16,29 million dollars. The entire amount was allocated at once, when the order appeared.
According to the plans of the military department, a new prototype until the end of next year will be deployed as part of a pilot military operation. Deployment is planned according to the OCONUS scheme - outside the continental United States. At the same time, the Pentagon has not yet specified exactly where the new equipment will be used. Site preparation and deployment of PHASER will take some time.
Military tests of the product are entrusted to the US Air Force. The events will take about 12 months and will end at the end of 2020. At the same time, extension of the terms is possible. It is planned to evaluate the features of operation and maintenance of equipment, to again test its combat capabilities, etc. Based on the results of all these checks, the Pentagon will draw conclusions and make a final decision on the future of the PHASER system.
In the absence of serious problems and difficulties, the PHASER complex will be able to enter service and go into mass production. The contract for the release of equipment will appear no earlier than the beginning of the 2021 calendar year. It is possible to shift the terms to the right.
Work on the PHASER product has been ongoing over the past few years. In 2016, Raytheon disclosed test results. By this time, the prototype of the complex managed to reach the training ground and show its capabilities in the fight against small-sized air targets.
The PHASER complex is a representative of the promising direction "weapons directed energy. " The principle of its action is the generation and radiation of directional microwave electromagnetic radiation of high power. Such a “beam” should adversely affect the electronic systems of the target and, at a minimum, impede its activity. Perhaps the defeat of the target due to fatal damage to the electronics.
The product from Raytheon was named after the phasers - weapons from the fantastic Star Trek franchise. At the same time, the real equipment and samples from the cinema have no external resemblance, and also use different principles of work.
The real “Phaser” is made on the basis of a standard cargo container, inside and outside of which the necessary systems are installed. The operator’s workplace is organized in the same container. The bulk of the devices are placed inside the container. On its roof is placed a rotary base with two characteristic devices. Devices can be folded for transportation.
The PHASER emitter consists of an antenna and a controlled reflective mirror. The first is made in the form of a rectangular canvas installed at an angle. The working surface is directed inward, in the direction of the mirror. The mirror is made in the form of a disk with guidance drives in two planes. Its movement relative to the emitter provides guidance of the microwave beam in two planes. Rough interference is carried out by turning the entire structure.
A control post is organized inside the container (retouched in the photo)
The PHASER complex receives target designation from third-party sources through existing means of communication and control. With their help, data is calculated for pointing the microwave “gun” with subsequent “firing”. Own means of detection and target designation are not yet available.
The parameters of the emitter were not published. Power, power consumption, beam parameters, etc. remain unknown. Also, the characteristics of the range of impact on the target are not disclosed. It is known that the phaser emitter has two modes. The first is characterized by lower radiation power and is intended for serious disruption of the target. The second mode provides for a short-term inclusion of the emitter at a higher power, destroying the electronics and capable of damaging the structural elements of the target.
The main goal for the PHASER complex are unmanned aerial vehicles of all classes. Due to obstruction of the operation or destruction of UAVs, it is proposed to organize air defense zones. It is possible to use a microwave emitter for manned aircraft or ground targets. In all cases, radiation should have a negative effect on unprotected electronic systems.
In 2016, Raytheon and the Pentagon customer began testing a new type of experimental equipment in a complete combat configuration. Quickly enough, we managed to get the desired results. So, even at the stage of factory tests, the PHASER complex hit the 33 UAVs of various types, and some goals were performed by flying in pairs and triples.
Mirror and Radiant Antenna
During the tests, all the main features were confirmed. The complex showed the possibility of countering UAVs or their destruction. They also demonstrated the comparative simplicity of its operation and the cheapness of combat use. The duration and intensity of the "firing" actually depend only on the available energy supply systems.
In the near future, the Pentagon wants to get a new prototype PHASER for deployment at one of the remote bases. With its help, personnel will master new technologies. It is also planned to strengthen the protection of this base from the characteristic threats of the present time. By the beginning of the 2021, the Air Force will have the necessary experience and will be able to draw conclusions.
In parallel with these events, the development of the existing project will continue. Newer versions of the PHASER product must be smaller, consume less power, etc. Based on the existing sample, it is planned to create more convenient and flexible products in use.
The PHASER complex in its current form is proposed as a promising air defense system adapted to combat current threats. He must attack the undersized Drones and disable them in one way or another. As such, the Phaser is of great interest to the army, and not only the American one.
Microwave “gun” compares favorably with traditional air defense systems by the ratio of efficiency and cost of combat work. Unlike anti-aircraft missile systems, PHASER only consumes electricity and does not need expensive ammunition. It should be noted that other weapons “based on new principles”, such as combat lasers, have the same advantages.
The directional combat microwave emitter optimally consumes energy, sending it directly to the target. At the same time, the task of incapacitating electronics does not always require large expenditures of energy - which further reduces operating costs.
Raytheon plans to reduce the size of its PHASER product. Thus, in the future, compact and mobile air defense systems with the required capabilities may appear. Moreover, the current configuration of the “Phaser” based on the container is suitable for transfer.
Naturally, the proposed system has disadvantages. The main one is the risks associated with the novelty and technical courage of the project. The tests are carried out with certain success, but the eradication of all defects requires time and effort. It is possible that the PHASER complex will return from military testing with a new list of recommendations for refinement.
The used method of influencing the target may not be universal and limit the combat capabilities of equipment. In particular, there is reason to believe that PHASER can not fight with all modern UAVs. The most advanced devices can be protected from microwave radiation, sufficient to break through air defense. The same goes for manned aviation or ground equipment. From the point of view of versatility, the PHASER product can lose to other anti-aircraft systems.
Nevertheless, during the tests, the prototype Raytheon PHASER complex successfully coped with the task of intercepting UAVs, including with group raids. After checking at the training ground, a new sample should go into experimental military operation. Already in 2020-2021. it will become clear what the fate of the most interesting project will be.
Complex PHASER in position
First deployment
23 September Pentagon published data on recent agreements and contracts. According to this report, Raytheon Missile Systems received an order to build a new prototype of the PHASER complex. Product delivery is expected within the next few months. The prototype and its operation will cost 16,29 million dollars. The entire amount was allocated at once, when the order appeared.
According to the plans of the military department, a new prototype until the end of next year will be deployed as part of a pilot military operation. Deployment is planned according to the OCONUS scheme - outside the continental United States. At the same time, the Pentagon has not yet specified exactly where the new equipment will be used. Site preparation and deployment of PHASER will take some time.
Military tests of the product are entrusted to the US Air Force. The events will take about 12 months and will end at the end of 2020. At the same time, extension of the terms is possible. It is planned to evaluate the features of operation and maintenance of equipment, to again test its combat capabilities, etc. Based on the results of all these checks, the Pentagon will draw conclusions and make a final decision on the future of the PHASER system.
In the absence of serious problems and difficulties, the PHASER complex will be able to enter service and go into mass production. The contract for the release of equipment will appear no earlier than the beginning of the 2021 calendar year. It is possible to shift the terms to the right.
Weapons not from science fiction novels
Work on the PHASER product has been ongoing over the past few years. In 2016, Raytheon disclosed test results. By this time, the prototype of the complex managed to reach the training ground and show its capabilities in the fight against small-sized air targets.
The PHASER complex is a representative of the promising direction "weapons directed energy. " The principle of its action is the generation and radiation of directional microwave electromagnetic radiation of high power. Such a “beam” should adversely affect the electronic systems of the target and, at a minimum, impede its activity. Perhaps the defeat of the target due to fatal damage to the electronics.
The product from Raytheon was named after the phasers - weapons from the fantastic Star Trek franchise. At the same time, the real equipment and samples from the cinema have no external resemblance, and also use different principles of work.
The real “Phaser” is made on the basis of a standard cargo container, inside and outside of which the necessary systems are installed. The operator’s workplace is organized in the same container. The bulk of the devices are placed inside the container. On its roof is placed a rotary base with two characteristic devices. Devices can be folded for transportation.
The PHASER emitter consists of an antenna and a controlled reflective mirror. The first is made in the form of a rectangular canvas installed at an angle. The working surface is directed inward, in the direction of the mirror. The mirror is made in the form of a disk with guidance drives in two planes. Its movement relative to the emitter provides guidance of the microwave beam in two planes. Rough interference is carried out by turning the entire structure.
A control post is organized inside the container (retouched in the photo)
The PHASER complex receives target designation from third-party sources through existing means of communication and control. With their help, data is calculated for pointing the microwave “gun” with subsequent “firing”. Own means of detection and target designation are not yet available.
The parameters of the emitter were not published. Power, power consumption, beam parameters, etc. remain unknown. Also, the characteristics of the range of impact on the target are not disclosed. It is known that the phaser emitter has two modes. The first is characterized by lower radiation power and is intended for serious disruption of the target. The second mode provides for a short-term inclusion of the emitter at a higher power, destroying the electronics and capable of damaging the structural elements of the target.
The main goal for the PHASER complex are unmanned aerial vehicles of all classes. Due to obstruction of the operation or destruction of UAVs, it is proposed to organize air defense zones. It is possible to use a microwave emitter for manned aircraft or ground targets. In all cases, radiation should have a negative effect on unprotected electronic systems.
"Phaser" at the landfill
In 2016, Raytheon and the Pentagon customer began testing a new type of experimental equipment in a complete combat configuration. Quickly enough, we managed to get the desired results. So, even at the stage of factory tests, the PHASER complex hit the 33 UAVs of various types, and some goals were performed by flying in pairs and triples.
Mirror and Radiant Antenna
During the tests, all the main features were confirmed. The complex showed the possibility of countering UAVs or their destruction. They also demonstrated the comparative simplicity of its operation and the cheapness of combat use. The duration and intensity of the "firing" actually depend only on the available energy supply systems.
In the near future, the Pentagon wants to get a new prototype PHASER for deployment at one of the remote bases. With its help, personnel will master new technologies. It is also planned to strengthen the protection of this base from the characteristic threats of the present time. By the beginning of the 2021, the Air Force will have the necessary experience and will be able to draw conclusions.
In parallel with these events, the development of the existing project will continue. Newer versions of the PHASER product must be smaller, consume less power, etc. Based on the existing sample, it is planned to create more convenient and flexible products in use.
Microwaves at the service
The PHASER complex in its current form is proposed as a promising air defense system adapted to combat current threats. He must attack the undersized Drones and disable them in one way or another. As such, the Phaser is of great interest to the army, and not only the American one.
Microwave “gun” compares favorably with traditional air defense systems by the ratio of efficiency and cost of combat work. Unlike anti-aircraft missile systems, PHASER only consumes electricity and does not need expensive ammunition. It should be noted that other weapons “based on new principles”, such as combat lasers, have the same advantages.
The directional combat microwave emitter optimally consumes energy, sending it directly to the target. At the same time, the task of incapacitating electronics does not always require large expenditures of energy - which further reduces operating costs.
Raytheon plans to reduce the size of its PHASER product. Thus, in the future, compact and mobile air defense systems with the required capabilities may appear. Moreover, the current configuration of the “Phaser” based on the container is suitable for transfer.
Naturally, the proposed system has disadvantages. The main one is the risks associated with the novelty and technical courage of the project. The tests are carried out with certain success, but the eradication of all defects requires time and effort. It is possible that the PHASER complex will return from military testing with a new list of recommendations for refinement.
The used method of influencing the target may not be universal and limit the combat capabilities of equipment. In particular, there is reason to believe that PHASER can not fight with all modern UAVs. The most advanced devices can be protected from microwave radiation, sufficient to break through air defense. The same goes for manned aviation or ground equipment. From the point of view of versatility, the PHASER product can lose to other anti-aircraft systems.
Nevertheless, during the tests, the prototype Raytheon PHASER complex successfully coped with the task of intercepting UAVs, including with group raids. After checking at the training ground, a new sample should go into experimental military operation. Already in 2020-2021. it will become clear what the fate of the most interesting project will be.
Information