Effectiveness Assessment of Tactical Laser Engagement Scenarios in the Lower Atmosphere

This study quantifies the effectiveness of proposed high-energy tactical laser missions, such as the Advanced Tactical Laser Advanced Concept Technical Demonstration and the Electric Laser on a Large Aircraft program, with consideration of simulated engagement scenarios in the lower atmosphere or troposphere, and establishes the need for a high-energy laser tactical decision aid. The simulations can be varied by geographic location and recent/current atmospheric weather conditions. The atmospheric effects are defined through the Air Force Institute of Technology Center for Directed Energy high-energy laser end-to-end operational simulation model. This model enables the creation of vertical profiles of temperature, pressure, water vapor content, optical turbulence, and atmospheric particulates and hydrometeors as they relate to line-by-line layer extinction coefficient magnitude at wavelengths from the ultraviolet to the radio frequency. The expected propagation performance is assessed at the wavelength of 1: 315 mu m in tactical laser engagement scenarios at a representative midlatitude site. Seasonal and boundary-layer variations (summer and winter) and time-of-day variations for a range of relative humidity percentile conditions are considered to determine optimum efficiency in a specific environment. Each atmospheric particulate/hydrometeor is evaluated based on its wavelength-dependent forward and off-axis scattering characteristics and absorption effects on the propagating environment. In addition to realistic vertical profiles of molecular and aerosol absorption and scattering, correlated optical turbulence profiles in probabilistic (percentile) format are used. The physically correct atmospheric characterizations used in a high-energy laser end-to-end operational simulation demonstrate the usefulness of implementing an engineering performance model with current meteorological conditions to a mission plan and optimize potential tactical high-energy laser combat engagements.