volume | PIER Journals

2022-02-16

Performance Prediction of Directed Energy Weapons

Graham V. Weinberg

Dr. Graham V. Weinberg

Weapons and Combat Systems Division

Defence Science and Technology Group

Australia

Homepage

Progress In Electromagnetics Research M, Vol. 108, 79-88, 2022

doi:10.2528/PIERM21111201

Abstract

Directed energy weapons provide a number of useful functions for the modern fighting force, and hence it is useful to produce a framework in which such a weapon's performance can be predicted. Towards this objective this paper introduces a new stochastic model to determine the number of targets defeated by a directed energy weapon over a given time interval. The key to this is to introduce a general queueing model, where arrivals are modelled by a renewal process, and the service time of a target being affected by the weapon is related to its probability of defeat. The queue is assumed to have an infinite capacity, and it is shown how the waiting time of detected threats can be modelled by an auxiliary delay process. A random variable counting the number of targets processed by the queue is then defined. Several functions constructed from this random variable will be investigated in order to identify a suitable metric for assessing performance. In order to facilitate this an example where a high energy laser is used for threat defeat is examined to investigate the utility of the identified performance metrics. As will become apparent, the modelling framework has considerable utility due to the fact that it can be used for performance prediction of any weapon system where an arrival process of threats and corresponding probability of defeat can be specified.

Citation

Copy Export

Graham V. Weinberg, "Performance Prediction of Directed Energy Weapons," Progress In Electromagnetics Research M, Vol. 108, 79-88, 2022.
doi:10.2528/PIERM21111201

References

1. Nielsen, P. E., Effects of Directed Energy Weapons, National Defence University, Washington, 1994.

2. Deveci, B. M., "Directed-energy weapons: Invisible and invincible?,", Master of Science in Electronic Warfare Systems Engineering. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, 2007.

3. Hafften, M. and R. Stratton, "High energy laser weapon integration with ground vehicles,", NATO Report presented to RTO AVT Symposium, RTO-MP-AVT-108, 2004.

4. "The high energy laser: Weapon of the future already a reality at Rheinmetall,", Product Description Sheet, 2021.

5. Radasky, W. A., "The threat of Intentional Interference (IEMI) to wired and wireless systems," 17th International Zurich Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility, 2006.

6. Radasky, W. A., C. E. Baum, and M. W. Wik, "Introduction to the special issue on High Power Electromagnetics (HPEM) and Intentional Electromagnetic Interference (IEMI)," IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Vol. 46, 314-321, 2004.
doi:10.1109/TEMC.2004.831899

7. Gebhardt, F. G., "High power laser propogation," Applied Optics, Vol. 15, No. 6, 1479-1493, 1976.
doi:10.1364/AO.15.001479

8. Cook, J. R., "Atmospheric propogation of high energy lasers and applications," American Institute of Physics, Vol. 766, No. 58, 2005.

9. Braidwood, S. and K. Hong, "Stopping car engines using high power electromagnetic pulses," International Conference on Electromagnetics in Advanced Applications, 2010.

10. Simon, M. D., "Solid-state high power radio frequency directed energy systems in support of USMC force protection operations,", Masters Thesis, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, 2015.

11. Weinberg, G. V., "Quantification of combat team survivability with high power RF directed energy weapons," Progress In Electromagnetics Research M, Vol. 102, 1-11, 2021.
doi:10.2528/PIERM21020406

12. Ross, S. M., Stochastic Processes, Wiley, 1996.

13. Durrett, R., Probability: Theory and Examples, Wadsworth Publishing Company, Duxbury, 1996.

14. Rubinstein, R. Y., Simulation and the Monte Carlo Method, Wiley, 1981.
doi:10.1002/9780470316511

15. Ross, S. M., Simulation, Academic Press, 2002.

16. Weinberg, G. V. and M. M. Kracman, "Armoured fighting vehicle team performance prediction against missile attacks with directed energy weapons,", ArXiv Preprint, arXiv:2106.14381v1, 2021.

17. Sprangle, P., J. Penano, and B. Hafizi, "Optimum wavelength and power for efficient laser propagation in various atmospheric environments,", Naval Research Laboratory Report, NRL/MR/6790-05-8907, 2005.