Publisher's Synopsis
It is imperative the United States (US) accelerate its development within the field of directed energy weapons and guard against the emergence of hypersonic threats. Hypersonic weaponry shifts the strategic calculus of U.S. decision makers, increases stand-off capabilities and alters the deterrence equation of international actors. Directed energy weapons offer a feasible approach countering the proliferation of hypersonic threats to the homeland, safeguards the decision space of our nation's leaders and potentially strengthens military, diplomatic and economic instruments of power simultaneously.This compilation includes a reproduction of the 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community.Speed and agility are key components in hypersonic weapons and the proliferation of such a capability will drastically alter warfare; therefore, an agile and integrated defense posture provides a feasible response to emerging hypersonic threats. As an alternative to counter hypersonic weapons, directed energy weapons have increased in capability recently and offer a valid response these weapons. Directed energy weapons range from various types of lasers to microwave weapons. R&D breakthroughs with free electron and fiber lasers have increased laser power while reducing size for military applications. The military has begun to realize the potential advantages directed energy weapons offer combat systems and increased R&D into directed energy defense systems like the U.S. Navy exemplify the possibility of a feasible offset strategy against hypersonic missiles.The U.S. Navy has deployed a directed energy weapon onboard the U.S.S. Ponce in 2014 and intends to increase future laser defense systems to 150 kilowatts (kW).10 The Laser Weapons System (LaWS) is currently capable of targeting drones with a power output of 30 kW. The U.S. Navy plans to increase LaWS's power and could potentially boost its capabilities to an anti-ship weapon. Innovations in laser technology enable the military capability to target, track and concentrate intense energy on aircraft and flying weapons today. Hypersonic missiles construct a difficult problem for any defensive system and if they are required to intercept an ICBM; they may need to be forward deployed in order to target the vehicle in the boost phase of flight. The U.S. military will need a defensive system adaptive enough to intercept ICBMs and other hypersonic vehicles like cruise missiles in the near future. A collaborative effort of commercial and public funded R&D will produce the best opportunity for a game changing technological breakthrough in directed energy weapons like the latest laser innovations over the past decade.
