The Future of Aircraft Countermeasures: Lasers

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Lockheed Martin, along with Boeing and Northrop Grumman, are developing a laser defense system designed to defend Air Force aircraft from inbound air to air missiles. Last month, the system has managed to pass several tests. A ground based model of the system has managed to shoot down several aerial-launched missiles, thus proving the feasibility of the technology.

The laser system is called the Self-Protect High-Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD). The system is intended to work as an active defense laser for aircraft, meaning that any missile, or possibly even hostile drone, that gets anywhere near the aircraft will be immediately shot down by a high energy laser. The system is to be installed onto aircraft, granting it mobile defense capabilities. In contrast to flares and electronic warfare, that are passive countermeasures intended mainly to “confuse” the missile, SHiELD is an active countermeasure, meaning it directly combats the threat.

Up until recently when lasers became mainstream in military technologies, nobody really even attempted to combat air to air missiles since they are so quick and can come from any angle. If the program continues to be successful, future aircraft would be protected like never before. Fighter pilots may not even need to take evasive actions anymore, knowing that they can just fly through the skies while SHiELD zaps out any inbound threats.

Such a defensive laser would not be limited only to fighter jets, it is very likely that the system would be outfitted to larger, less maneuverable jets such as the C-13, C-130J, command and control jets, and aerial refueling jets.

There are several ways for the laser to neutralize missiles. A laser can damage the sensors in charge of navigating the missile towards its target, particularly by destroying the infrared seeker. A laser can also damage a missiles aerodynamic figure, causing the missile’s flight capabilities to suffer significantly. Finally, the heat of a laser could also ignite any rocket fuel or explosive material, causing the missile to self-destruct in midair.

Popularmechanics.com reports that Russian and Chinese air forces are developing long range air to air missiles, with the Vympel R-37M and the PL-XX. These missiles are intended to be used against larger aircraft, such as aerial refueling tankers and AWAC (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft. ShiELD would at least be able to partially negate the threat of these missiles.

However in the future, fighter jets will need to carry more missiles if they want to stand a chance against SHiELD. Although with technological breakthroughs happening with directed energy all the time, it would make sense to believe that we aren’t too far from having offensive laser capabilities on our fighter jets. However, if you believe in the saying: “the new weapons you develop now will be used against you in a generation,” then it’s just a matter of time until every military in the world gives up on traditional rockets and missiles and replaces them with high energy laser attack and defense capabilities.

Below is a video showing the capabilities of a similar high energy laser system developed by Lockheed Martin.