Jan 28 2011
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is performing preliminary design review (PDR) on the Free Electron Laser (FEL) program after the successful testing of an injector producing the electron flow for the MW-class FEL laser was successful.
The FEL team is now determining the characteristics of the continuous electron beams to achieve a world record for the current of electrons.
ONR's Free Electron Laser Program for future shipborne applications
The electron laser is produced by transmitting a high-energy electron beam via a a range of intense magnetic fields, creating a powerful laser light that can stop or demolish targets. In upcoming ship-based applications, the main generator of the ship will power the laser to produce indefinite ammunition. It will offer high and accurate speed-of-light protective weapon functionality required to defend rising threats such as cruise missiles. Every vessel housing this weapon will use a single FEL source inputting up to 10 beam directors and taking numerous targets concurrently at varied ranges, directions and altitudes.
ONR started the FEL project as a fundamental science and technology program in the 1980s and then advanced into a14-kW prototype. The Boeing Company secured a $163 million contract from ONR to design and test a 100-kW class FEL weapon system in April 2009.
Boeing’s FEL Program Manager, Ed Pogue said that the capability to adjust the wavelength to optimal transmission of the laser via the marine atmosphere and the capability to focus for single tiny point on the target are the two special features of the FELs, enabling them to raze the target in less amount of time.
ONR’s FEL Program Manager, Quentin Saulter said that the FEL team is already ahead of schedule to attain its targets for 2011. The FEL weapon system has to clear the major design review phase in the Q4 of 2011. Then, extra task orders for production and demonstration will be conducted in labs. ONR expects to test the FEL system under maritime condition by 2018.