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High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator (HELMD)

The Boeing Company is the prime contractor for the HEL MD program. The technology objective of the HighEnergy Laser Mobile Demonstrator (HEL MD) is to demonstrate a solid-state laserweapon system to complement kinetic energy capabilities in countering rockets,artillery, and mortar (RAM) projectiles. This directed energy weapon system will alsohave a significant capability against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator has been demonstrated to be an effective system to counter rockets, artillery, and mortars (RAM) and has the potential to address threat unmanned aerial systems. The system effectiveness is limited by the supporting acquisition and tracking systems that place the kill laser on the target. In particular, adverse weather conditions limit acquisition and tracking performance and hence overall system performance. Enhanced acquisition and tracking sensors and algorithms are required to address this limitation.

Polaris Sensor Technologies investigated a variety of sensing modalities across the infrared to improve acquisition and tracking performance in adverse weather. Atmospheric propagation models will be used and additional models developed to assess atmospheric and weather effects of representative RAM signatures. The effort will focus on optimal choice of spectral band and the potential for polarimetric sensing to improve signal to background ratios but will also include the impact of these signatures on acquisition and tracking system performance. Model results will be compared to measurements.

Considerable technology developments were realized over the year 2015 for the HEL MD. Successfuldemonstrations were conducted for a pathfinder 10 kilowatt-class laser at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

These demonstrations served as a risk reduction for future subsystem development and integration while advancing this technology effort to a 50 kilowatt demonstration in 2017. The 50 kilowatt HEL MD will consist of a ruggedized and supportable high energy laser installed on a tactical military vehicle to enhance the safety of deployed forces. Another major component of the HEL MD is the beam director which will provide full sky coverage andengage below-the-horizon targets. As technology matures, higher power lasers will integrate with improved pointing and tracking capabilities to extend range and increase system effectiveness. The continued positive technology advances and testing resultswere recognized by the Army’s senior leadership as HEL MD was selected by the Army Science and Technology Working Group as one of only three Army Capability Enabler programs to be further evaluated. The synergy of both directed and kinetic energy systems has the potential to significantly enhance both regional and homeland defense capabilities, particularly against cruise missile and indirect fire threats.

In 2013 the Army used a vehicle-mounted high-energy laser for the first time to successfully engage more than 90 mortar rounds and several unmanned aerial vehicles in flight. The Army High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator, or HEL MD, underwent multiple test events between Nov. 18 and Dec. 10, at White Sands Missile Range. This was the first full-up demonstration of the HEL MD in the configuration that included the laser and beam director mounted in the vehicle, according to officials of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command. They said a surrogate radar, the Enhanced Multi Mode Radar, supported the engagement by queuing the laser.

The HEL MD is being developed to show directed-energy force-protection capabilities against rockets, artillery and mortars, known as RAM. It is also intended to protect against unmanned aerial vehicles, known as UAVs, and cruise missiles. Mortars travel at low velocities for short ranges in high-arching trajectories. These weapons, as well as UAVs, are representative of the threat encountered by U.S. and allied forces on the battlefield, officials said. Initial system effectiveness was proven through low- and medium-power test demonstration that took place in 2011. High-power testing has now concluded at the High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility on White Sands Missile Range.

The demonstration and testing confirms the capability of a mobile solid-state laser weapon system to counter mortars, UAVs, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors mounted on the UAVs, officials said.

The 2013 testing utilized a 10-kilowatt class laser. In the future, a 50-kW class laser will be integrated into the HEL MD platform, officials said. The 50-kW laser is scheduled to be upgraded to a 100-kW class laser in subsequent demonstrations, they added. The supporting thermal and power subsystems will also be upgraded to support the increasingly powerful solid-state lasers, according to USASMDC/ARSTRAT officials. They said these upgrades will increase the effective range of the laser or decrease required lase time on target.

Unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly called drones, provide reconnaissance and weapon capabilities. The relatively low cost makes them a prevalent force multiplier for military units. According to Lt. Col. Jeff Erts, experiment and war-games chief for the Fires Battle Lab on Fort Sill, drones have become an increasing threat around the world where friendly forces are encountering drones. The operators of those drones are able to report locations of friendly troops and call in large barrages of enemy fire as a result. The US doen't currently have anything to take those down. So the Army is working to put something in the field that can destroy these before they have a chance to report on friendly Soldiers' locations.

The first weapon demonstrated was a compact laser weapons system able to either be transported on its own vehicle or as an augmentation of currently used equipment. For the demonstration, a 2-kilowatt laser was mounted on a Stryker armored vehicle. The system's beam controller was mounted to the top of the vehicle while the laser itself, the power and coolant, were integrated into the interior of the Stryker. Nearby was a 10-kilowatt laser, on an independent vehicle.

The lasers have the ability to melt away plastic and burn through metal, damaging drones to the point that they can no longer remain airborne or their reconnaissance abilities are damaged. The lasers are able to perform regardless of weather, however poor weather can degrade the performance. Still, "the carcasses of multiple destroyed drones, some shot by the laser through rain, are testaments to the power and ability of the lasers," said Adam Aberle, High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator program manager, U.S. Army's Space and Missile Defense Command and Army Forces Strategic Command Technical Center.

Operators pick a point on the target and sensors in the beam are able to "see" and lock on to the target, through auto tracking. The laser produces little noise and is invisible to the eye. "You can have an effect and nobody knows what happened," said Aberle.

Perhaps the biggest feature is the weapon's ability to save military money in terms of ammunition currently needed to provide security against unmanned aerial vehicles. According to Erts the current method to combat aerial targets is to use expensive equipment. For the military to engage in counter drone missions with current technology would be financially inefficient. Instead the lasers will be able to fulfill the role.