Target Aiming Point Focusing Strategy for Destroying a Short-Range Target Using Distributed Laser Systems

Abstract

Consider a scenario where multiple high power laser weapon systems are positioned closed to a base, in order to protect the base from an aerial target, such as a missile. We consider destroying a short-range flying target which is sufficiently close to the base. Using multiple lasers can reduce thermal blooming, which decreases the effective power that can be delivered to a target site in the atmosphere. Thus, this paper proposes utilizing multiple high power laser sources to aim on a single point of the target to maximize the attack efficiency and avoid directional disturbances. Once a target is detected by a search radar system, then the position of the target can be calculated in global coordinate systems and is shared by all laser systems through fiber-based wired links. Then, each laser aims at the target followed by firing at the target. This paper presents how to make multiple high power lasers aim at a single target point for maximizing the attack efficiency. Considering the case where there are more than one high power laser sources, this paper is novel in addressing the control and synchronization of every laser system. MATLAB simulations are used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed multi-laser systems.