Laser weapon

• Laser weapons designed to directly destroy targets
• Blinding Laser Weapons
• Laser weapons of other action

Laser weapons designed to directly destroy targets

It is rather difficult to create laser weapons intended for direct destruction of targets due to the large amount of energy needed to destroy structural elements or disrupt the performance of internal target electronic systems.

For the same reason, it is still quite problematic to create small-sized laser weapons, hand-held, mainly due to the large size of the necessary batteries made on the basis of current technologies.

In this regard, the main direction of modern development of laser weapons designed for direct destruction of targets are large mobile and stationary ground, sea and air-based systems.

Blinding Laser Weapons

A simpler way is to create a laser weapon, the main purpose of which is a blinding effect on the organs of vision of enemy personnel, as well as on optical guidance or recognition systems for weapons and military equipment, which require much less energy to destroy.

The action of a blinding laser weapon on the enemy’s manpower is achieved through a directed laser beam of red or green color, causing temporary blindness and psychological impact, leading to the inability of a person to carry out coordinated (conscious) actions, thereby reducing his fighting efficiency and preventing him from moving forward.

The bright light of the laser, deployed in a line and scanning the terrain, creates the effect of a light curtain, preventing the snipers of the enemy from conducting targeted fire, and in some cases, visual observation through optical instruments.

In accordance with the safety standards of the International Electrotechnical Commission , the power of the laser source must be between two limits. The upper limit limits the maximum exposure power, which does not lead to burns and irreversible effects on the eyes (2.5 mW / cm2), the lower limit (less than 1 mW / cm2) determines the power sufficient to achieve a temporary blinding effect.

To protect the retina of the eye from damage by low-power lasers at a short distance, it is possible to supply laser emitters with distance meters that automatically reduce the radiation power or turn off the emitter.

(in the USA and Europe, this class of weapons is called the "dazzler") are used as non-lethal weapons .

Other Laser Weapons

In addition to actually destroying targets or blinding, laser systems are being developed for other types of non-lethal exposure, as well as for remote clearance ( ).

One of the most unusual examples of non-lethal laser weapons is the prototype of an acoustic laser gun developed for the US Army, during which two different types of lasers, due to the remote creation of a plasma cloud, can exert light and noise effects at a distance of tens of kilometers. ^{[1] [2]}

In addition, portable lasers can be used to give warning signals, distress, as a means of exchanging information during reconnaissance operations, due to narrowly directed radiation over long distances.

Military Advantages

Laser weapons could have several major advantages over traditional weapons:

• Laser rays propagate at the speed of light, so there is no need to take into account the movement of the target and apply preemption when firing at distances of less than 300 thousand km. Consequently, it is impossible to avoid the laser "shot" in the vast majority. In conditions of ground and air combat, it is generally impossible to avoid exposure to a laser beam.
• The laser beam is not affected by the gravity of the planet (e.g. Earth) (in the immediate vicinity of black holes and other very massive objects, the laser beam trajectory is still curved, however, it is unlikely that battles will be fought there).
• The laser can change the focus configuration on the active area, which can be much smaller or larger compared to the size of the damaging element of the kinetic (eg firearm) weapon.
• The "ammunition" of the laser depends only on the energy source.
• Since light has an almost zero “energy momentum” (more precisely, the ratio of the photon momentum to its energy is${\displaystyle \mathrm{<span\; class="mwe-math-element"><span\; class="mwe-math-mathml-inline\; mwe-math-mathml-a11y"\; style="display:\; none;">one</span></span>}<span\; class="mwe-math-element"><span\; class="mwe-math-mathml-inline\; mwe-math-mathml-a11y"\; style="display:\; none;">/</span></span>\mathrm{<span\; class="mwe-math-element"><span\; class="mwe-math-mathml-inline\; mwe-math-mathml-a11y"\; style="display:\; none;">c</span></span>}}$ {\ displaystyle 1 / c}   ), the laser has no tangible impact.
• The range of use of laser weapons far exceeds the range of traditional (kinetic, ballistic and jet) weapons, but depends on atmospheric conditions and the power of the energy source.

Disadvantages of use

Scattering

A laser beam causes a plasma channel in air at an energy density of about a megajoule per cubic centimeter. The scattering effect leads to a loss of focus by the laser and energy dissipation in the atmosphere. Significant scattering is observed in fog, smoke and plasma clouds.

Evaporation of Target Material

Another problem with military lasers is the evaporation of material from the surface of the target, which obscures the target.

High Power Consumption

One of the main problems of laser weapons (like any other directed energy weapons) is the high energy consumption.

Beam Absorption

see Absorption

Lack of indirect fire

Unlike artillery cannons capable of firing along a hinged path , that is, "throwing" a projectile over a wall, hill, etc., laser weapons cannot perform such tasks. As a possible solution to this problem - a certain corrector in the form of a mirror on an aircraft or ground vehicle

An easy way to counteract light radiation

The use of reflective elements (mirrors) can make the use of a laser useless. They can easily reflect the laser beam, like any other light, regardless of its power.

It will be quite easy to equip the equipment with such mirror armor. There may be problems with the infantry, which will increase the cost of production.

For complete protection from enemy fire, you will have to make the mirrors (reflective elements) unbreakable or cover them with a layer of armor, which the laser is likely to melt, but will immediately reflect on the reflective layer.

Currently, new technologies are being developed for the manufacture of laser weapons for use in scientific experiments, as well as for military use.

USSR and Russian Federation

Since the mid-1950s, large-scale work has been carried out in the USSR on the development and testing of high-power laser weapons as a means of direct destruction of targets in the interests of strategic anti-space and missile defense. Among others, the Terra and Omega programs were implemented. The laser tests were carried out at the Sary-Shagan test site (air defense, missile defense, air defense system, air defense system, air defense system) in Kazakhstan. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, work at the Sary-Shagan training ground was stopped.

The second prototype A-60 was later relocated to the territory of Russia and, according to some information ^[3] , has been involved in the Sokol-Echelon program since 2011, one of the participants of which is the Almaz-Antey concern, and the goal is to develop a laser counteraction complex space surveillance equipment . ^[4] According to RIA Novosti ^[5] , the tests of the laser gun on it were held from 2009 to 2011, then they were suspended. In 2016, the aircraft was again tested with the aim of finalizing the installation of laser weapons as part of the work on the Skif-D laser system.

According to some reports, from 1980 to 1985 on the auxiliary vessel of the Black Sea Fleet " Dikson " tests were conducted of the laser ISU, created by the project "Aidar" and designed to be based in space and destroy satellites. According to other sources ^[6] , later, in 1987, a mock-up of the Skif-DM space laser combat platform was launched on the Energia launch vehicle.

In December 2014, a statement appeared in the media by the former Chief of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces , Army General Yuri Baluyevsky , that the Russian Federation was working on the creation of laser weapon systems ^[7] .

On August 2, 2016, the Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia announced the adoption of individual samples of laser weapons, but he did not specify which ones. ^[8]

On March 1, 2018, the receipt of laser systems from the RF Armed Forces from 2017 by the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin , however, he also did not voice either the purpose of this weapon or its characteristics. ^[9] Judging by the short video posted on the same day on the YouTube channel of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation ^[10] , we are talking about a ground-based complex on a wheeled chassis.

Blinding Laser Weapons

In the Soviet Union, in 1979-82, the military experimental blinding self-propelled complexes "Stilet" and "Sanguin" were created , and in 1992 passed state tests and the 1K17 "Compression" complex was recommended for arming.

In 1984, the USSR developed and created a prototype of a space " laser pistol ", designed primarily for use at orbital stations and counteract the optical systems of reconnaissance satellites. ^{[11] [12]} .

In the Russian Federation, blinding special means have been adopted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and are mass-produced. An example is the product "POTOK" produced by the NGO "Special Materials" ^[13] .

USA

The idea of ​​using laser weapons to intercept missiles was considered in the United States as part of the well-known Star Wars program - the SDI program (1980s).

Boeing

One of the most famous laser weapon projects is an aviation-based chemical laser developed as part of the National Missile Defense system, deployed on a Boeing YAL-1 aircraft, designed to intercept missiles.

Later, the development of the HEL MD program ^{[14] [15]} was started. From November 18 to December 10, 2013, a 10 kW high- power Laser Laser Demonstrator (HEL MD ^[16] ) were tested at a training ground in the state of New Mexico . During testing, the installation destroyed more than 90 artillery mines and several drones . In 2014, successful tests were carried out in difficult weather conditions ^[17] ; A video about installing Boeing Directed Energy: Blasting Targets at the Speed ​​of Light on YouTube was published on August 11, 2015.
On August 3, 2015, during an “Black Dart” exercise, an unmanned aerial vehicle was successfully shot down with a 2 kW laser using the Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS) developed by a Boeing laser ^[18] ; A video about the Boeing's Compact Laser Weapons System: Sets Up in Minutes, Directs Energy in Seconds was published on YouTube on August 27, 2015.

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Also, as part of the creation of the National Missile Defense system, in the late 90s, together with the Israeli defense department, she developed the chemical laser of the Nautilus missile defense system, also known as THEL ( Tactical High-Energy Laser ). By 2008, it had released an upgraded version of the system called Skyguard .

The development of laser weapons for the Navy is engaged in the Directed Energy Systems sector of the Northrop Grumman Corporation . April 6, 2011 tests of its development took place on a decommissioned destroyer type "Spruence" ^[19] . In addition to the prototype of a marine combat laser, Northrop Grumman Corporation has developed a number of ground-based solid-state devices ^[20] .

Lockheed Martin

In 2012, Lockheed Martin officially introduced the prototype ADAM ( Area Defense Anti-Munitions ) compact ground defense system ^[21] . The system was tested in 2012 ^{[22] [23]} and 2013 ^{[24] [25]} to combat small unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles at a distance of 1.5–2 km, and in 2014 ^[26] against motor boats. ^[27]

In March 2017, Lockheed Martin tested a new combat laser, the design power of which is 60 kW. During the tests, the measured laser beam power of the new installation was 58 kW. The tests were considered final in the project for the development of laser weapons, created under the contract of the US Army. The technology used in the new installation, according to Lockheed Martin, can reduce energy consumption by an average of 50% compared to solid-state lasers. ^[28] .

DARPA

In the mid-1980s, U.S. Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and West German military industry companies launched a joint program within the framework of NATO to develop tactical systems of military air defense / missile defense with military laser installations under the auspices of the US government research institutions under the auspices self-propelled media (HEL program, High-Energy Laser ). At the same time, the US Department of Defense preferred to take an equidistant position of an outside observer in this area, hoping in case of success of the indicated projects to make a choice in favor of purchasing foreign complexes rather than investing fabulous means in laser systems of national design ^[29]

In early 2014 , DARPA tested the Excalibur installation. Она включает в себя 28 волоконных лазеров, объединённых в систему, которая способна фокусировать луч на расстоянии, превышающем 7 километров. Каждый элемент обладает излучающей мощностью в 10 Вт. Они объединены в блоки по 7 штук. Диаметр такого блока составляет 10 сантиметров. Их общее количество и мощность можно наращивать простым соединением. Эксперименты DARPA показали эффективность масштабируемого лазера с набором излучателей. «Экскалибур» использует особый алгоритм оптимизации лазерного излучения и в течение считанных миллисекунд корректирует параметры лазерного луча, компенсируя турбулентность атмосферы. В течение трёх лет планируется довести мощность до 100 кВт, которых будет достаточно для уничтожения ракет, снарядов, БПЛА , поражения живой силы. Кроме того, такую систему можно будет совместить с существующими платформами: вертолётами, самолётами, кораблями, бронетехникой. Разработчики ожидают, что волоконно-оптический лазер будет в 10 раз легче и компактнее текущих опытных твердотельных лазерных систем ^[30] .

Компания General Atomics Aeronautical Systems по заказу DARPA работает над созданием лазерной системы защиты самолётов от ракет различных классов на базе системы . ^[31]

Командование морских систем ВМС США (NAVSEA)

8 апреля 2013 года ВМС США заявили о планах оснащения в 2014 году боевых кораблей лазерами, способными поражать беспилотные летательные аппараты и мелкие суда ^{[32] [33]} При этом на YouTube-канале «US Navy» в тот же день было выложено официальное видео ^[34] c испытаний 30 июля 2012 года в Сан-Диего на борту USS Dewey (DDG-105) созданного исследовательской лабораторией Командования морских систем ВМС ( англ. Naval Sea Systems Command ) (NAVSEA) лазера LaWS ( англ. Laser Weapon System ). В конце 2014 года первая боевая лазерная установка по этому проекту развернута на корабле ВМС США USS Ponce в Персидском заливе ^[35] . По сообщениям CNN в июле 2017 года система прошла успешные испытания ^[36] .

Компания « Raytheon » создала боевой лазер для оснащения вертолётов "AH-64 Apache" по заказу Министерства обороны США. 26 июня 2017 года она сообщила об успешных испытаниях системы на в Уайт Сэндз, штат Нью-Мексико . ^[37] Кадры с испытаний можно увидеть в ролике, размещённом компанией на YouTube 6 июня 2017 года ^[38] .

Ослепляющее лазерное оружие

Самым известным ослепляющим лазером в США можно считать разработанную Министерством обороны лазерную винтовку PHASR .

Для нужд армии и полиции компанией LE Systems разработана система CHPLD (Compact High Power Laser Dazzler).

Китай

Согласно некоторым публикациям ^[39] , лазер мощностью 10 кВт, способный сбивать беспилотные летательные аппараты, разработан при участии Китайской Академии технической физики.
Позднее лазерные установки Low Altitude Guard II мощностью 30 и Silent Hunter мощностью 50-70 кВт были представлены Китаем на международных выставках в ЮАР и Объединённых Арабских Эмиратах соответственно ^[40] .

В июле 2018 года специалисты китайского Института оптики и высокоточной механики закончили разработку лазерной штурмовой винтовки ZKZM-500, которая классифицируется как нелетальная, но может быть использована и как зажигательная, и для нанесения телесных повреждений противнику. Радиус действия оружия 800 метров, длительность выстрела 2 сек., количество выстрелов на одном заряде аккумулятора более 1000. ^[41] В настоящее время ведутся заключительные работы по подготовке производства нового вида оружия и она, новая винтовка ZKZM-500 уже скоро окажется на вооружении спецподразделений китайской полиции, ориентированных на проведение антитеррористических операций ^[42] .

Ослепляющее лазерное оружие

В Китае одним из самых известных образцов является лазерная винтовка , производство которой прекращено в 1995 году, поскольку её мощность превышает максимально допустимую согласно «Конвенции о запрещении или ограничении применения конкретных видов обычного оружия, которые могут считаться наносящими чрезмерные повреждения или имеющими неизбирательное действие».

Позднее Китай разработал целый ряд образцов ослепляющего оружия, таких как BBQ-905 ^[43] , WJG-2002, PY131A, PY132A.

В сухопутных войсках КНР стоит на вооружении боевой танк Тип 99 , который оснащается лазерной системой JD-3. Определив источник излучения (прицельного комплекса противника), установленный на танке, лазер ослепляет систему наведения противотанковой ракеты или оператора. Танк принимал участие в широкомасштабных учениях .

Великобритания

В 2016 году Министерство обороны Великобритании заключило контракт на разработку корабельной лазерной системы «Dragonfire» с консорциумом, в который входят MBDA , QinetiQ , Leonardo-Finmeccanica , , Arke, BAE Systems и . ^[44]

Ослепляющее лазерное оружие

В Великобритании в 2011 году очередной прототип нелетального лазера был разработан компанией BAE Systems для защиты моряков от пиратов ^[45] .

Для вооруженных сил компанией Thales разработана система GLOW (Green Light Optical Warner) допускающая различные варинты крепления включая планку Пикатини . ^[46]

Франция

Французская кораблестроительная компания « DCNS » разрабатывает программу « ADVANSEA » в ходе которой планируется создать к 2025 году полностью электрифицированный боевой надводный корабль с лазерным и электромагнитным вооружением. ^[47]

Германия

In November 2011, the German company Rheinmetall in Switzerland demonstrated the interception of an unmanned aircraft by a laser system on an armored personnel carrier developed by its Rheinmetall Defense division. In 2013, the HEL system was demonstrated immediately on three different chassis ^[48] - on M113 armored personnel carriers (1 kW Mobile HEL Effector Track V V ) and GTK Boxer 5 and 10 kW mobile HEL Effector Wheel XX ) a also on an eight-wheeled Tatra truck ("Mobile HEL Effector Container L" with a power of 20 kW). In 2016, an advertising video for the Rheinmetall High-energy laser effectors HEL modular installation appeared on Youtube , including frames for demonstrating systems in 2013 ^[49] . Since 2006, the German division of the European company MBDA has been developing combat lasers. ^[50] At a test site in Schrobenhausen , tests were carried out on a 20 kW installation, destroying a drone at a distance of 500 meters in 3.39 seconds. ^[51]

Application

The use of lasers for military purposes was first authorized during the Falkland War by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on warships to counter Argentina's air force pilots. ^[52]

At different times, similar systems were installed on combat aircraft, ships, tanks, handguns - including as an insert into the under-barrel grenade launcher , or used as a separate device.

The GLOW system was used by British troops in Afghanistan . ^[53]

The US Army in Iraq and Afghanistan used as blinding not only the appropriate special equipment, but also GBD-III laser designators, which have a fundamentally different purpose. The result of the erroneous use of such funds was, among other things, blinding the soldiers of the US Army itself. ^[54]

Also in the United States, it is believed that a blinding laser of unknown power was used against a Canadian Air Force Sea King helicopter with a US Navy officer aboard April 4, 1997 from the Russian bulk carrier . Presumably this was done to counter the attempts to photograph the ship, which, according to the United States, carried out reconnaissance missions. This episode is known as the " in the Strait of Juan de Fuca ." However, in the course of the search of the ship following the incident, which officially belonged to Far Eastern Shipping Company OJSC and had a home port of Vladivostok , the laser was not detected.

Under “Additional Protocol IV of the Convention on the Prohibition or Restriction of the Use of Specific Conventional Weapons Which May Be Considered to Be Excessive Damage or Have Indiscriminate Effects” ( Vienna , October 1995 ), the use of laser weapons specifically designed for use in hostilities exclusively or including in order to cause permanent blindness to the organs of vision of a person who does not use optical devices.

This prohibition does not apply to laser weapons that cause temporary blindness. One of its uses is the suppression of criminal acts directed against employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and special units that fulfill their responsibilities in protecting the rule of law and in capturing offenders. The use of such weapons in self-defense provides a small degree of risk to the health and life of the defender.

In December 2017, the use of laser weapons causing permanent blindness was recognized as a war crime ^[55] .

• Laser weapons were widely known after the first film of the star wars of George Lucas hexalogy. The words "a long time ago in a distant galaxy" began to be associated with any mention of laser weapons (laser swords, pistols, machine guns and machine guns).
• Also, laser-based weapons have been and are used in almost all games about the future, as well as about parallel worlds and high-tech civilizations of the past.
• The description and image of laser weapons vary for different authors and artists, from a continuous stream of coherent light radiation, like in the Dawn of War game, to weapons that look like Star Wars blasters with recoil and separately flying rays with a finite flight speed.

• Laser gun
• Laser application
• Electric laser
• Weapon of directional energy

• Demin A. Laser halfway to Star Wars // magazine "Technology and weapons yesterday, today, tomorrow"; in numbers: No. 9 (p. 16-19), No. 10 (p. 16-19), No. 11 (p. 32-33), No. 12 (p. 35-37) for 2003 ; No. 1 (p. 27-31), No. 2 (p. 37-41), No. 3 (p. 35-40), No. 4 (p. 24-33), No. 5 (p. 33) for 2004 .

• Laser weapons - the realities of our time (unopened) (inaccessible link) . // Federal electronic directory "Arms of Russia" (arms-expo.ru.80). Date of treatment October 21, 2018. Archived May 24, 2008.
• Filippov Yu. (Ssu-filippov) Laser weapon systems added five times the power over the past year // NanoNewsNet Website (NanoNewsNet.ru) January 10, 2013.
• In the USA, they tested a laser that shot down drones / © BBC Russian Service // BBC Website (www.bbc.com) April 9, 2013.
• American Laser Gun on YouTube
• Shock Force ( REN TV ), Laser War and Mortal Ray issues on laser weapons