Directed energy weapons for the NGAD fighter: new details and old problems

The concept of the NGAD fighter with laser weapons from Northrop Grumman

In the interests of the US Air Force, a promising next-generation fighter Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) is being developed. As part of this project, it is planned to implement a number of new ideas and technologies, with the help of which it will be possible to provide superiority over any existing aviation technique. In particular, the possibility of creating and implementing the so-called. weapons on new physical principles or "directed energy" systems.

Future technologies

Over the past few years, the NGAD program has been in the research and preliminary design stages. This year, a full-fledged development of the future fighter has started. For obvious reasons, almost all the details of the project remain classified; even the approximate appearance of the future aircraft is unknown. However, some of its features have already been revealed.

The NGAD was reported to be a stealth supersonic fighter. Its main task will be the struggle for air superiority, but it will be able to perform other tasks, such as intercepting enemy aircraft or attacking ground targets.

Another version of the appearance of NGAD. Lockheed Martin Graphics

Fundamentally new solutions in the field of avionics and related opportunities are proposed. So, depending on the characteristics of the combat mission, the aircraft will be able to operate under the control of a pilot or in an unmanned mode. In addition, the widest networking opportunities are provided: fighters will interact with each other and with other combat units, incl. with unmanned aerial vehicles.

Armament complex

Some plans of the customer and industry in the context of armaments are disclosed. So, at the first stage, the NGAD fighter will be armed with guided missiles and bombs. The nomenclature of such weapons will be determined in accordance with the content of the arsenals at the time of the appearance of the aircraft. Like modern 5th generation fighters, the promising NGAD will carry such weapons in internal cargo bays.

Several times official reports mentioned the fundamental possibility of using "directed energy" weapons. Combat lasers and "microwave guns" fall into this category. It is not excluded that in the medium or long term, complexes of this kind with limited dimensions and weight, suitable for installation on aircraft, will be created.

So far, combat lasers and "microwave guns" are being developed in the context of aircraft protection. An airborne defense system with such means will make it possible to suppress enemy systems, as well as effectively deal with air-to-air or surface-to-air missiles, regardless of the method of their guidance. In the future, the appearance of similar complexes capable of hitting aircraft and ground equipment is possible.

2013 Laser Weapons Plan US Department of Defense Graphics

New Details

Recently, new information was published on the development of "weapons based on new physical principles" for the US Air Force. The Drive / The War Zone, using the Freedom of Information Act, obtained declassified documents about stories Air Combat Air Command (AAC) 2014-16 It turned out that during this period the Command showed great interest in new weapons and even received some results.

It is reported that in 2014-15. AAC's attention has been drawn to the latest developments in directed energy weapons, led by DARPA. The command studied the existing developments and assessed their potential in the context of combat aviation.

According to the open part of the documents, the interest of the Command was attracted by the Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) program, which has been developed under the leadership of the DARPA agency since 2013. Its goal is to create a containerized laser air defense system for installation on existing and advanced aircraft.

In 2014-15 AAC and AFRL representatives met to discuss various aspects of the SHiELD program. At the same time, the attention of the Command was drawn to two projects within the framework of the latter. The first of these is classified and is not mentioned in the open version of the document, and the second was High Energy Laser for Future Air Dominance (HEL-FAD). The AAC wanted to know all the details of HEL-FAD, and also requested information about the reasons for its failure.

Layout of a suspended container with a combat laser. Photo by the US Department of Defense

It is curious that during the declassified period, the Air Combat Command was interested in existing projects, but did not launch their own. It is quite possible that such a project did start, but it started later, after 2016. By this time, AAC could explore all the available opportunities, draw conclusions and draw up its own terms of reference.

In the context of laser weapons, The Drive / The War Zone also cites a declassified slide from an AFRL presentation from 2013. It indicates that in 2016 the laboratory was going to conduct ground tests of a future aircraft laser technology demonstrator with a power of tens of kilowatts. In 2022, such a system was planned to be transferred to an air platform and tested in flight. After 2029, a new generation laser with a power of more than 100 kW was expected to appear and enter the tests. for 6th generation fighters.

Both aviation laser systems were designated as a means to combat missiles of various types: anti-aircraft, air-to-air or air-to-surface aviation. The fight against more complex targets in 2013 was not mentioned.

With a vision for the future

The US Air Force's interest in "directed energy weapons" was known before. By their order, several not very successful projects were developed. Now it has become known that the Air Force is seriously studying the possibility of creating combat lasers for tactical aviation. Moreover, there is reason to believe that they did not stop at research and launched a full-fledged project a few years ago.

Alternative NGAD from Lockheed Martin

The situation with electromagnetic weapons looks different. Various "microwave guns" have already been tested in the field conditions. Small-sized systems for fighters, as far as is known, have not yet been created and / or have not reached testing. It cannot be ruled out that the projects of aviation "guns" encountered difficulties. Or the Air Force simply does not consider this direction promising and therefore pays more attention to lasers.

According to the work schedule almost a decade ago, by 2022, AFRL and allies had to create a limited-power combat laser suitable for installation on tactical aircraft. Similar successes of the American industry have not yet been reported. There is no even indirect evidence of obtaining such results, or at least approaching them.

It is possible that the Research Laboratory and DARPA programs encountered some difficulties, and the work schedule had to be revised. The hypothetical laser project commissioned by the Combat Command, if it exists, should also be in one of the early stages, and the container with unusual weapons is unlikely to be ready for full-fledged flight tests.

It should also be noted that the projects of combat lasers for the Air Force are still distinguished by a certain modesty. We are talking only about the fight against missiles of different types. With the help of a laser of sufficient power, it is proposed to suppress or “burn out” infrared homing heads or damage the missile structure. More complex targets, such as aircraft or various ground objects, are still planned to be left to traditional weapons - missiles and bombs.

NGAD concept from the US Air Force. Key components are marked. U.S. Department of Defense graphics

Apparently, well-known factors interfere with increasing the power of lasers and expanding the list of targets to be hit. Thus, the use in tactical aviation imposes restrictions on the dimensions and weight, as well as on the power consumption of a combat laser. At the same time, it must have a radiation power of at least tens of kilowatts. Apparently, no one has yet been able to create a laser system with such a ratio of characteristics. Whether anyone will be able to do this in the foreseeable future is unknown.

Uncertain dates

According to statements in recent years, the NGAD fighter will be tested in the second half of the decade. No later than the beginning of the thirties, the troops expect serial equipment of this type. Whether it will be possible to meet these deadlines is unknown. At the same time, it can be expected that in the early stages of operation such a fighter will indeed not receive fundamentally new weapons.

In recent years, the US industry has made some progress in the field of "directed energy" weapons, but systems suitable for the full use of tactical aircraft have not yet been created. In addition, at the moment only defensive systems are being created for it. How soon these projects will be completed is unknown. The creation of full-fledged combat systems for combating aircraft or ground targets is also in question. However, the Pentagon remains optimistic and is going to solve all these problems.

Comments

[Lech from Android.]

It will give ist Fanstatish ... until the problem of a capacious energy source capable of accumulating and delivering a huge amount of energy to the emitter in the shortest possible time is solved, the problem of a combat laser will not be solved.
This is physics and chemistry, their laws cannot be bypassed.

[bayard]

Quote: Lech from Android.

until the problem of a capacious energy source capable of accumulating and delivering a huge amount of energy to the emitter in the shortest possible time is solved, the problem of a combat laser will not be solved.

With the actual source of energy on board of sufficient power, everything is more or less clear (recently), this is the use of excess torque on the turbojet shaft, which will not affect traction characteristics, but will make it possible to generate huge power on board. Yes, the generator will have weight, it is copper and an iron anchor, but if you need a lot of energy on board, then this way is the most direct and uncomplicated (not from a technical, but from a fundamental point of view). But the question arises about the accumulation of generated energy in capacitors and their weight and size parameters. All this must be considered. But if the game turns out to be worth the candle (and in the USA they consider it as such), then the appearance of laser combat systems in service with military aviation is possible in 10 years. If you do this, of course.
In the US, they do this and call just such terms.

Quote: ViktorVictor

a spot of laser radiation at a distance of 100 km will have a diameter of at least 20 meters, and the energy density over an area of ​​1 cm2 with a total laser source energy of 1 MJ will be less than 0,1 J/cm2. This is too little - in order to hit a rocket (create a 1 cm2 hole in it, depressurizing it), more than 1 kJ / cm2 is required "...

Of course, combat lasers in atmospheric conditions will not be able to hit targets at long range - scattering and absorption by the medium have not gone away and are not going to go away. The purpose of such installations on board can be precisely the defensive function from attacking missiles, to intercept the missile defense system from a short distance and use it against enemy fighters (and not only) in close combat. Therefore, the emitters must be rotary with the capture and tracking of the target. Two pieces - behind the cockpit and under the belly of the aircraft.
Not only fighters, but also bombers, and even reconnaissance and transport aircraft can become carriers of such weapons ... if it turns out to be economically and tactically justified.
Whether such work is being carried out in our country is not yet known, but I would like it to be so.

[VictorVictor]

..."Technical reasons (according to the source - Zarubin P.V. "Academician Basov ...") consisted in the fact that at a micron wavelength of laser radiation it was practically impossible to focus the beam on a relatively small area. That is, if If the target is at a distance of more than 100 km, then the natural angular divergence of optical laser radiation in the atmosphere as a result of scattering is 0,0001 deg. This was established in the Institute of Atmospheric Optics at the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences, specially created to ensure the implementation of the program for creating laser weapons. Tomsk, which was headed by Academician V.E.Zuev It followed that the spot of laser radiation at a distance of 100 km would have a diameter of at least 20 meters, and the energy density over an area of ​​1 cm2 with a total laser source energy of 1 MJ would be less than 0,1 ,2 J / cm1 This is too little - in order to hit a rocket (create a hole in it of 2 cm1, depressurizing it), it takes more than 2 kJ / cmXNUMX "...
The beam of light propagates linearly, from here one can calculate the size of the spot at 10 km, at 20 km, and estimate the power concentration. The physics of the atmosphere makes this principle stillborn for the destruction of ammunition. It's possible to damage the optics.

[Kotofeich]

"angular divergence of optical laser radiation" Optical - yes. But there are probably other types of radiation. (I'm not an expert)

[Hitriy Zhuk]

Quote: ViktorVictor

The beam of light propagates linearly, from here everyone can calculate the size of the spot per 10 km

2 meters?
Meter at 5 km?
Either there are different lasers (but it will all "diverge"), or it is generally inoperable.

[AlAvis]

Even if these are real data, they are only for one wavelength, and outside the "transparency window" of the atmosphere.

[Nikolaevich I]

Mdaaa...! So, from the first glass you won’t understand ... the United States is imitating vigorous activity or is really "boiling"! On the one hand, there are a lot of bucks and engineers, like mosquitoes in the Siberian taiga ... why not have fun with the new reptile (NGAD, New GAD ...) to our annoyance? And on the other hand, we remember the "death-bearing projectors" that failed to our happiness in the form of an "artillery gun" firing at 2 thousand miles and EM guns, coupled with an X-ray combat laser for a hundred beams!

[cold wind]

Israel and the United States are already serially installing directed energy weapons on ships, and all developed countries of the world are developing in this direction. Marine, land and air directed energy systems are no longer surprising. Soon the number of projects will turn into quality. Against swarms of missiles and UAVs, this is the only adequate response.

[Aviator_]

Israel and the United States are already mass-producing directed energy weapons on ships,

And where is it, serial? Do not offer the destroyer Zamvolt.

[Maks1995]

The stump is clear that something is being developed.
and a 6th generation aircraft, and energy weapons.

There are also many options for the latter. From gamma and X-ray lasers to blinding and microwaves.
Time will tell.

[Illanatol]

Another cut of the budget dough. We've played enough with the F-22, it's time to stir up a new "project".
The laser system is compact enough to fit into a fighter (a fighter, Karl! Not a Boeing 747 - a fighter!), but powerful enough to hit high-speed maneuverable targets (which are very difficult to keep in sight even for 1 second).
In order to guarantee hitting a fighter at least (I’m not talking about the bomber), it is necessary that the output (final) power of the coherent radiation pulse be comparable to the kinetic energy of a 23 mm air gun projectile, at least. Taking into account the divergence of the laser beam, its partial absorption by atmospheric gases (why do we see the laser beam from the side? In space, this is impossible), this can only be ensured by a very powerful source of energy. And since part of the energy during laser pumping will be transferred to the installation itself, a powerful cooling system will also be required.
And all this in a small aircraft?
"No, son, this is fantastic..."

[Vyacheslav Ermolaev]

This is what. The pro-Russian Military Watch, in one of the articles about the Su-57, assured that an electromagnetic gun was tested on it.

[VictorVictor]

Quote: Kotofeich

"angular divergence of optical laser radiation" Optical - yes. But there are probably other types of radiation. (I'm not an expert)

Physics textbook in hand, and look through. Better start with definitions. from 5th grade.

[VictorVictor]

Quote: Nikolaevich I

Mdaaa...! So, from the first glass you won’t understand ... the United States is imitating vigorous activity or is really "boiling"! On the one hand, there are a lot of bucks and engineers, like mosquitoes in the Siberian taiga ... why not have fun with the new reptile (NGAD, New GAD ...) to our annoyance? And on the other hand, we remember the "death-bearing projectors" that failed to our happiness in the form of an "artillery gun" firing at 2 thousand miles and EM guns, coupled with an X-ray combat laser for a hundred beams!

Our scientist, Peter Ufimtsev, who fooled the amers with radar invisibility, needs to erect a monument. SO FUCK these idiots, throwing in trillions of dollars, trying to do something that is cheap and easy enough .... And railguns? This is the second slop to the stupid ones. Let them shoot with copper bolts at 100 km and try to get not ON THE TERRITORY of the enemy, but, specifically, into the object. For the loss of territory will be zero, the bolt has no charge, but to get into the tank at such a distance, without systems for aiming a projectile at a target .... Because of the HORIZON. ....

[netzer]

The aiming accuracy is always less than 1 miliradian, thus requiring a close-in battle.

[Illanatol]

In "close-in battles" a conventional aircraft gun can be more effective than these "blasters".

[VictorVictor]

Quote: bayard

The purpose of such installations on board can be precisely the defensive function from attacking missiles, to intercept missiles from a short distance and use them against enemy fighters (and not only) in close combat

Yes, turn on your goddamn brains! What is much more effective to GET - with a beam of light, from a MOVING object into a moving object, when aiming must be maintained for a LONG time, before burning, or to launch a handful of shells with a remote detonation AT A SMALL distance? Yes, what nonsense can a person who does not think at all, and who has no idea of ​​​​the real, grind? And how much should the aircraft be made heavier by equipping it with all this generating equipment? An ammunition load equal in mass to this will smash to hell not only a racket, but also a good fortress.

[VictorVictor]

Quote: Vyacheslav Ermolaev

This is what. The pro-Russian Military Watch, in one of the articles about the Su-57, assured that an electromagnetic gun was tested on it.

And in Moscow, they say, chickens are milked and pies with kittens are baked. They are eaten, and they are looking.

[VictorVictor]

Quote: bayard

With the actual source of energy on board of sufficient power, everything is more or less clear (recently), this is the use of excess torque on the turbojet shaft, which will not affect traction characteristics, but will make it possible to generate huge power on board

Think, comrade, and be ashamed. What heresy are you spouting here. Rivets are licked on airplanes in order to bargain a couple of kilometers of speed from Nature. And you say that the excess can be inflated in the name of a couple of shots with this light gun. (He won’t be in time anymore, he will be overwhelmed by light and adult-armed opponents) I’ve seen enough, you know, cartoons with fights on light rays. If the load of the generator appeared, then, therefore, the thrust decreased. Did you hear about the Law of Conservation of Energy, or did you smoke your time in the school toilet, smoking your folder's cigarettes?

[Mikhail3]

Gee-gee-gee-gee ... This is what happens when high-ranking military men "build a life" based on comics read at the age of five)) Already generals, but everything is like a five-year-old's brains, looking at a picture with Superman shooting out of his eyes "laser beams".
In fact, everything, absolutely everything currently available, is a weapon of directed energy (God, how to stop laughing?!)). I'll say more! When Pithecanthropus took in his paw the dear grandfather's club, and cracked the Cro-Magnon man on the cumpol with it, he ALSO used a weapon of directed energy! Kinetic! Just like the fat-assed green beret, pouring everything around with the M16, only the Pithecanthropus used the conversion of its own strength into the kinetic energy of the weapon, and the beret used the conversion of the energy of the powder charge into the same kinetic energy!)
To date, there is no weapon that satisfies at least the minimum requirements "based on new physical principles." Since all the physical principles known to us are already quite old, and what we could, we have already squeezed out of them. It would be worth setting the task more correctly, then you see, and the solutions would be more realistic.

[kenpachi]

Everything is much easier there. Just missed the remark that these are new for weapons physical principles. Wasn't there before a weapon that uses the Lorentz force to disperse a projectile? Did not have. This means that the principle is new, although this force was discovered a century ago.

[Abyssinian]

Maybe not AAC (Alaskan Air Command), but Air Combat Command (ACC)?

[Charik]

On March 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, in which, in addition to economic, international and social topics, the issues of the state's defense capability and the creation in the Russian Federation of new models of strategic and hypersonic weapons, as well as weapons systems based on new physical principles, were touched upon. However, he clarified that there are still such promising developments, information about which is still closed. March 1, 2018, 18:25 - what-where-when? Is it something not to see new physical principles in service or is it not noticeable?

[VictorVictor]

Quote: Hitriy Zhuk

Quote: ViktorVictor

The beam of light propagates linearly, from here everyone can calculate the size of the spot per 10 km

2 meters?
Meter at 5 km?
Either there are different lasers (but it will all "diverge"), or it is generally inoperable.

Read from the beginning. These are not defective lasers, this is how the atmosphere works. It's all about water droplets of microscopic size. They, due to their small mass, hang in the air, and the humidity is never zero. Under the action of the beam, they instantly heat up, explosively, and evaporate, creating a curtain and conditions for the beam to diverge.

[AlexTss]

In addition to the atmosphere, the beam diverges in vacuum as well.

The angle of divergence in the ideal case (coherent plane wave of uniform intensity, and a circular output aperture of diameter D) is calculated by the formula: φ = 1,22*λ/D. Angle in radians. Actually, the conditions for the validity of this formula just coincide with what is done at the output of the laser: coherent radiation, uniform energy density, round aperture.

So in space, the same, not everything is simple and smooth ...

[flicker]

In recent years, the US industry has made some progress in the field of "directed energy" weapons, but systems suitable for the full use of tactical aircraft have not yet been created.

They were in the lead in the creation of hypersonic weapons for a long time.
So what?

[Knell wardenheart]

It is not for nothing that they are so busy with the LO - there are no alternatives to it for combating high-speed and maneuvering targets on different trajectories. A cloud of striking elements is effective only on a collision course, and in the case of anticipating these same collision courses, in pursuit and along other trajectories, a means will be required that has a multiple of greater speed and maneuverability than the intercepted object. And consequently, a larger-comparable mass required for acceleration, maneuvering, and taking into account the loss of time for detection. Thus, any missile weapon against missile weapons is a classic race where gravity and time itself play against the defending side.
The classic cannon approach is relevant only for a very short period, when the count goes to a fraction of a second, if we are talking about high-speed ammunition. And even in this case, you still need to have time to calculate everything, etc. The laser, on the other hand, acts conditionally "instantly", has no recoil, its accuracy does not (practically) depend on gravity, it does not waste time on acceleration, and it does not need to be made stronger and more powerful for maneuvering.

Regarding the power supply of the LO, I am not an expert, but the MHD generator seems to be a quite interesting solution for providing the LO with energy, given that "stealths", with all the power of their remote control, are mostly rather slow-moving aircraft. This device is much more compact than a classic turbine generator.

Exceptionally long distances for the LO are not worth it - its task is the budgetary destruction of small and dangerous objects, for the interception and damage of which it is irrational to use other means. These are distances of the order of 1-3 km., The LO itself can be quite successfully cooled by outboard air (taking into account the system for reducing the exhaust temperature of the stealths themselves), this will only slightly increase thermal visibility during direct operation. So I don’t see anything outrageous in the requirements themselves - another thing is the issue of counteracting such an approach on the part of the attacking side is not as complicated as the implementation of the project itself.

[Illanatol]

It is not for nothing that they are so busy with the LO - there are no alternatives to it for combating high-speed and maneuvering targets on different trajectories.

There is. You can use microwave, radio waves in the ultrashort range (as in a microwave). They worked on it in the USSR.

Quote: Knell Wardenheart

Regarding the power supply of the LO, I am not an expert, but the MHD generator seems to be a quite interesting solution for providing the LO with energy, given that "stealths", with all the power of their remote control, are mostly rather slow-moving aircraft. This device is much more compact than a classic turbine generator.

Are MHD generators actually produced or are they still experimental facilities?
As far as I understand, as a plasma - a jet from the engine? Enough energy? How much power can be taken from a turbojet or even two? Moreover, without prejudice to traction, because the molecules in the jet of the engine will lose speed and energy when braking in a magnetic field.
Well, the use of LO at close range is a so-so idea. Such a carrier of the LO will itself be very vulnerable. What prevents the use of a kamikaze drone against him, for example, or just an attack drone with air-to-air missiles? Such an exchange would be extremely unprofitable.

[Illanatol]

Quote: ViktorVictor

It's all about water droplets of microscopic size. They, due to their small mass, hang in the air, and the humidity is never zero. Under the action of the beam, they instantly heat up, explosively, and evaporate, creating a curtain and conditions for the beam to diverge.

Well, not only that. Molecules of gases (nitrogen, oxygen) will absorb radiation quanta, be excited and generate secondary radiation, which will go in all directions. Therefore, the laser beam is visible from the side (in the atmosphere).