This Background Paper describes and assesses current concepts for directed-energy ballistic missile defense in space. Its purpose is to provide Members of Congress, their staffs, and the public with a readable introduction to the so-called 'Star Wars'technologies that some suggest might form the basis of a future nationwide defense against Soviet nuclear ballistic missiles. Since these technologies are a relatively new focus for U.S. missile defense efforts, little information about them has been readily available outside the expert community. Directed-energy or 'beam' weapons comprise chemical lasers, excimer and free electron lasers, nuclear bomb-powered x-ray lasers, neutral and charged particle beams, kinetic energy weapons, and microwave weapons. In addition to describing these devices, this Background Paper assesses he prospects for fashioning from such weapons robust and reliable wartime defense system resistant to Soviet countermeasures. The assessment distinguishes the prospects for perfect or ear-perfect protection of U.S. cities and population from the prospects that technology will achieve a modest, less-than-perfect level of performance that will nonetheless be seen by some experts as having strategic value. Though the focus is technical, the Paper also discusses, but oes not assess in detail, the strategic and arms control implications of a major U.S. move to develop and deploy ballistic missile defense (BMD).

Addendum to an environmental impact statement for testing of the Line of Sight Anti-Tank (LOSAT) program. LOSAT is an armored vehicle which uses the Kinetic Energy Missile System.

This Background Paper describes and assesses current concepts for directed-energy ballistic missile defense in space. Its purpose is to provide Members of Congress, their staffs, and the public with a readable introduction to the so-called 'Star Wars'technologies that some suggest might form the basis of a future nationwide defense against Soviet nuclear ballistic missiles. Since these technologies are a relatively new focus for U.S. missile defense efforts, little information about them has been readily available outside the expert community. Directed-energy or 'beam' weapons comprise chemical lasers, excimer and free electron lasers, nuclear bomb-powered x-ray lasers, neutral and charged particle beams, kinetic energy weapons, and microwave weapons. In addition to describing these devices, this Background Paper assesses he prospects for fashioning from such weapons robust and reliable wartime defense system resistant to Soviet countermeasures. The assessment distinguishes the prospects for perfect or ear-perfect protection of U.S. cities and population from the prospects that technology will achieve a modest, less-than-perfect level of performance that will nonetheless be seen by some experts as having strategic value. Though the focus is technical, the Paper also discusses, but oes not assess in detail, the strategic and arms control implications of a major U.S. move to develop and deploy ballistic missile defense (BMD).

For some time, U.S. ballistic missile defense (BMD) programs have focused primarily on developing kinetic energy interceptors to destroy attacking ballistic missiles. These efforts have evolved over almost 30 years and have produced a significant amount of test data from which much can be learned. This report provides a broad overview of the U.S. investment in this approach to BMD. The data on the U.S. flight test effort to develop a national missile defense (NMD) system is mixed and ambiguous. There is no recognizable pattern to explain this record nor is there conclusive evidence of a learning curve over more than two decades of developmental testing. In addition, the test scenarios are considered by some not to be operational tests and could be more realistic in nature; they see these tests as more of a laboratory or developmental effort. Success and failure rates (and their technical causes) have shown relative consistency through this period. The U.S. flight test effort to develop theater missile defense (TMD) systems appears more promising. In relative terms, developmental and operational testing of TMD systems has been more successful than the NMD effort. Nonetheless, TMD systems that evolved from mature, existing ground and sea-based air-defense systems have demonstrated greater test success than other TMD programs.

The objective of this study centralized on the analysis of a kinetic bombardment long-rod penetrator system and its evident processes, ramifications, and applications. Applications spanned three broad operational intentions; deep bunker breach, intercontinental strike capability, and preeminence over terrestrial forces without matched investment. The ambition of a viable Kinetic Bombardment Orbital Mechanism (KBOM), is for the cost in its entirety from being put into orbit, to maintenance, and ejecting payloads, to be less than or equal to the same amount of marginal effort required to build, maintain, and launch the required number of ICBMs to complete a given set of tactical objectives. Eleven potential Kinetic Bombardment Rod (KBR) configurations were initially developed varying between two forms; standard tungsten carbide rods and tungsten carbide rods equipped with thermobaric warheads. Through an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) down select process, a final standard tungsten carbide rod composition was selected for use as a case example for further investigation. It is concluded that as policies are shaped to allow less restricted military activity in space, kinetic bombardment systems will be acquired in response to distinct international events or threats. Peer nations seeking to match U.S. general terrestrial forces without matching U.S. investment may also look to acquire orbital defense satellites. In regards to nations such as the United States that already own weapons effective against all classes of targets, kinetic bombardment systems will only become viable prospects once launch costs decline with the development of reusable launch vehicles. This study makes the beginning but surely not the whole case, for the long pursued concept of orbital defense satellites as the obstacles that once stood in the way recede. While it does not however suggest or constitute the immediate development of such a project, it perhaps constitutes its future consideration.

The Committee on an Assessment of Concepts and Systems for U.S. Boost-Phase Missile Defense in Comparison to Other Alternatives set forth to provide an assessment of the feasibility, practicality, and affordability of U.S. boost-phase missile defense compared with that of the U.S. non-boost missile defense when countering short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats from rogue states to deployed forces of the United States and its allies and defending the territory of the United States against limited ballistic missile attack. To provide a context for this analysis of present and proposed U.S. boost-phase and non-boost missile defense concepts and systems, the committee considered the following to be the missions for ballistic missile defense (BMD): protecting of the U.S. homeland against nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD); or conventional ballistic missile attacks; protection of U.S. forces, including military bases, logistics, command and control facilities, and deployed forces, including military bases, logistics, and command and control facilities. They also considered deployed forces themselves in theaters of operation against ballistic missile attacks armed with WMD or conventional munitions, and protection of U.S. allies, partners, and host nations against ballistic-missile-delivered WMD and conventional weapons. Consistent with U.S. policy and the congressional tasking, the committee conducted its analysis on the basis that it is not a mission of U.S. BMD systems to defend against large-scale deliberate nuclear attacks by Russia or China. Making Sense of Ballistic Missile Defense: An Assessment of Concepts and Systems for U.S. Boost-Phase Missile Defense in Comparison to Other Alternatives suggests that great care should be taken by the U.S. in ensuring that negotiations on space agreements not adversely impact missile defense effectiveness. This report also explains in further detail the findings of the committee, makes recommendations, and sets guidelines for the future of ballistic missile defense research.

What Is Directed Energy Weapon A directed-energy weapon, often known as a DEW, is a ranged weapon that inflicts harm on its target by directing a highly concentrated kind of energy towards it. This type of energy may take the form of lasers, microwaves, particle beams, or sound beams. This technology may have a variety of uses, some of which include weapons that target individuals, missiles, vehicles, and optical equipment. Research on directed-energy weapons to counter ballistic missiles, hypersonic cruise missiles, and hypersonic glide vehicles is being conducted in the United States by the Department of Defense, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Air Force Research Laboratory, the United States Army Armament Research Development and Engineering Center, and the Naval Research Laboratory. It is not anticipated that these missile defense systems would become operational any earlier than the middle to late 2020s. How You Will Benefit (I) Insights, and validations about the following topics: Chapter 1: Directed-energy weapon Chapter 2: Strategic Defense Initiative Chapter 3: Non-lethal weapon Chapter 4: Anti-satellite weapon Chapter 5: Wireless power transfer Chapter 6: Sonic weapon Chapter 7: Active Denial System Chapter 8: Space warfare Chapter 9: Particle beam Chapter 10: Plasma stealth Chapter 11: Space weapon Chapter 12: Electrolaser Chapter 13: Particle-beam weapon Chapter 14: Dazzler (weapon) Chapter 15: Project Excalibur Chapter 16: Laser weapon Chapter 17: KALI (electron accelerator) Chapter 18: Counter rocket, artillery, and mortar Chapter 19: Counter-electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project Chapter 20: Vigilant Eagle Chapter 21: AN/SEQ-3 Laser Weapon System (II) Answering the public top questions about directed energy weapon. (III) Real world examples for the usage of directed energy weapon in many fields. (IV) 17 appendices to explain, briefly, 266 emerging technologies in each industry to have 360-degree full understanding of directed energy weapon' technologies. Who This Book Is For Professionals, undergraduate and graduate students, enthusiasts, hobbyists, and those who want to go beyond basic knowledge or information for any kind of directed energy weapon.