The research concentration area of high energy lasers and pulsed lasers is dedicated to the use of electromagnetic energy to defeat threats like UAVs, surface and ISR threats with effects from jamming to destruction, enhancing situational awareness, and moving to enhancing layered defense against Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles (ASCM). The objective of this research concentration is to develop next-generation laser weapon systems deployable on a variety of naval platforms, that can automatically adjust their power, beam characteristics, and engagement strategies based on the specific threat environment and operational objectives providing a layered defense against air and surface threats, including ASCMs.
Research Challenges and Opportunities
High Energy Laser
Modeling of DE effects against materials, electronics, sensors, and platforms in maritime environment
Simulating continuous-wave (CW) laser beams’ optical performance and material responses in complex conditions
Researching novel naval laser weapon system fire control architectures
Developing sensors and novel instrumentation related to naval target tracking functions (e.g., low-noise, high frame rate tracker cameras)
Pulsed Laser
Characterizing and mitigating environmental limitations on pulsed laser propagation
Advancing core laser technologies and components
Investigating low-TRL (Technology Readiness Level) capability enabling technologies
Exploring hybrid pulsed and CW systems
Improving laser-material interaction and target engagement, including development and refinement of target-damage assessments
Enhancing optical survivability by developing advanced coatings and treatments
Translating system operation needs into defining system requirements
How to Submit
For detailed application and submission information for this research topic, please refer to our broad agency announcement (BAA) No. N0001425SB001.
Contracts: All white papers and full proposals for contracts must be submitted through the ONR Submission Portal; instructions are included in the BAA.
Grants: All white papers for grants must be submitted through the ONR Submission Portal, and full proposals for grants must be submitted through grants.gov; instructions are included in the BAA.