SBIR-STTR Award

Optical Physics Company (OPC) is proposing to develop a conformal HEL architecture that provides a complete tactical HEL system for an airborne platform. The OPC solution addresses all of the shortfalls in the state of the art, providing complete solutions for subaperture phasing, pointing, acquisition and tracking, as well as stray light control and aimpoint selection and maintenance. The near term goal is to achieve similar on-target performance to that of a 30 cm conventional beam control system using a 25 kW laser. At the same time, the technology scales well to 2 meter class apertures and Megawatt power levels for an ABL-type capability for a small fraction of the size, weight and cost. OPC’s past and ongoing efforts in deep turbulence correction, 3D atmospheric characterization, fiber laser subaperture phasing, beacon-less HEL architecture, and HEL boresight sensor provide an excellent basis for this conformal design. During Phase I trade studies will be conducted to better define and optimize the conformal architecture components in cooperation with our technology transition partner. In particular, the transmitter subapertures, sensor subapertures, processing and control functions will be evaluated to select final designs for the prototypes to be fabricated and tested in Phase II.

Benefit:
Tactical and long-range HEL systems are set to transform military operations in all services in the next 10-20 years. Much faster than missiles and with surgical precision, they will be extraordinarily effective against other weapons systems with minimal collateral damage. Conformal HEL designs promise extremely lightweight, high performance and cost-effective options which can enhance utility and speed deployment. On this project, OPC is teamed with a prime contractor who is a key player in high power fiber lasers as well as fighter jet production which supports the near-term application of a conformal HEL system on that platform.

Keywords:
Aero-Optics, Hel, Aircraft Laser, Beam Director

Optical Physics Company has developed a novel design for an extremely compact and broadband beam director.Conceived, designed, fabricated and tested under OPC IR&D, the key technical features of this new design have been proven in the NIR.In addition, a modified design has been completed which is predicted to satisfy all DARPA performance requirements in the MWIR band.This compact beam director with wide band capability, 120o field of regard and multi-KHz response will allow extremely compact and lightweight beam directing in an aircraft for EO sensors.In addition, scalable to 50 cm diameter, this technology provides a practical solution to compact beam steering for conformal HEL systemssomething which has eluded the community until now.Our transition partner, Raytheon SAS, offers commercialization channels into both markets and will be a subcontractor to OPC to support our transition process into both markets.In particular, we expect them to partner with us to do a flight test of a military MWIR sensor in the Option Phase.Such a flight test would raise the TRL to 6 at the end of the Phase II program.