DAZZLING DEFENSE: Combat helicopters such as this one could benefit from laser-based defense systems.
Image: U.S. Navy
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Helicopter-mounted lasers that can dazzle and defend against heat-seeking missiles are now under development, researchers reveal.
The military often relies heavily on helicopters in areas such as Afghanistan, where rough terrain can make it hard for airplanes to land and for troops and vehicles to travel on the ground. However, as the Soviet Union discovered in the 1980s during their war there, copters are easy targets for enemies with shoulder-launched missiles, "and now, unfortunately, the U.S. is on the other side with Afghanistan," says Mohammed Islam, a laser and fiber-optics scientist at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. "To consider the magnitude of the problem, there are about 3,000 helicopters in the U.S. armed forces."
Islam and his colleagues are now devising a way to protect helicopters from such attacks using off-the-shelf lasers. The missiles normally home in on aircraft by targeting the infrared radiation given off by the latters' engines; the lasers jam the sensors on these heat-seekers from up to three kilometers away by shining infrared beams at them, buying the helicopters enough time to maneuver away.
Most lasers emit just one wavelength, or color. To deflect missiles, the researchers are employing what are known as mid-infrared supercontinuum lasers, or MISCLs, that give off a much broader range of wavelengths—from the visible (800 nanometers) to the mid-infrared (4.5-microns). (A nanometer is one billionth of a meter; A micron is one millionth of a meter.) Because these lasers emit such a broad spectrum, they inundate the opposing sensors with all the infrared wavelengths the missile might look for; any attempts by opponents to block these dazzling rays by painting reflective or absorptive coatings on the missile beforehand would also blind its sensors to the same wavelengths from the copter engine.
Less than 10 percent of the light from the laser is a visible dim red; the rest falls within the infrared range. Altogether, the latest version of the device packs about 10 watts of power concentrated into a searing beam. "People who put their hands in its beam quickly move the hand away," Islam says.
The new laser uses technology from the telecommunications industry, which relies on multiple wavelength lasers to create many highway lanes for data signals to travel within fiber optics. "It's a clever way of using lasers that you can essentially buy off the shelf," said laser scientist Anthony Johnson at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, who did not take part in this research.
Laser-based defenses have already found their way onto some aircraft, but the laser optics in these systems can currently have up to 84 moving pieces—precision components that can easily get knocked out of alignment by the rumbling on a copter. "Our lasers have no moving parts, which means they can withstand a helicopter's shake, rattle and roll," Islam explains. The hope is to replace the lasers in existing aircraft antimissile defense systems that detect and train beams on their targets. The system is being commercialized through Islam's company, Omni Sciences.
In terms of weight current laser-based aircraft antimissile defense systems weigh on the order of 16 kilograms, whereas this new laser is more in the 4.5-kilogram range. When it comes to cost, "for our next prototypes, we'll probably have the parts cost $25,000 to $30,000, and with the packaging and testing we could probably sell it profitably for $100,000," Islam says. In comparison, laser-based aircraft defense systems today cost roughly $1 million, he explains.
The researchers developed a first-generation, DVD player–size prototype for the U.S. Army in 2008, and are working on a second-generation, laptop-size device for 2011 that is four times more powerful. Although Islam says that helicopters probably face the greatest need for such laser-based protection against missiles, "it's potentially applicable to all aircraft," he suggests.
Islam says the laser could also aid in border surveillance—the chemicals involved in explosives often emit specific light wavelengths when hit by infrared rays, which means these lasers might be able to detect guns and bombs from afar. "You could put them maybe a kilometer or two apart at borders to monitor someone passing, instead of having a border patrol agent every 60 feet," he says.
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12 Comments
Add CommentIf its so easy maybe it can be used to protect civilian aircraft as well?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThen, the missil will be readapted by using the radar technology, then continue the ping-pong the technology battle...
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWell at the time it wasn't such an idiotic thing really, we just didn't follow it up with humanitarian aid or support. But your point is still valid.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this(and a plug for Charlie Wilson's War, its a great movie.)
The laser isn't enough. Without a highly accurate and stable aiming system to mount it on, popping that missle's little eyeball at 3km with that skinny hotbeam ain't happnin. That's the million dollar 84 parts.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDavid Cota; If US removes its military bases, stop support of tyrant dictators and stop unjust wars and occupation, all those fighting US will come back to normal life (hopefully). No one likes to be in perpetual war. However, people have strong sense of justice and freedom and they dont want to live under foreign rule. Such people will use all means to reclaim their independence. Of course, US will still be invited by its stooges and agents like Mubarak, Abdullah II, Karzai, Abbas and company. However leaving these annointed leaders separate, take a poll in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi, Afghanistan etc., people dont want your military bases. Stop the injustice and occupation and wars will end. World will be a lot peaceful place to live in harmony.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIahmad "If US removes its military bases, stop support of tyrant dictators and stop unjust wars and occupation, all those fighting US will come back to normal life (hopefully). "
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhile it would be great to live in a perfect world, the world we live in is not. Leaving aside the sociopathic dictators of the world, you have Pakistan v India, Israel v Palestinians, Shia v Suni, etc.- conflicts which have lasted for generations and have nothing whatsoever to do with the US. However, conflicts that involve those factions can adversly affect the US.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, and it is better to maintain that vigilance throughout the world wherever there is the potential for trouble. The world isn't perfect and neither is the US- but we're in many ways more perfect than much of the rest of the world. We do need to try harder not to be evil sometimes.
Might is right. As Darwin proved it's the best that will survive. Let's face it, if all the poor people in the world were to get reach our standards then it would unravel. Perhaps you are working for your boss, ever questioned why that is? There has to be a hierarchy and everyone needs to fit in their place. Sorry but Gods on our side.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGod bless the west.
Jacob.
＠Jaco
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYes God has blessed the west. God blessed the West with the ability to be Imperialist and benefit from the Wars that it produces. And God has blessed the West with Obesity and pollution.
Not only that, but God has blessed the West with development and an economy which may come to a crashing end if sufficient energy isn't found to replace those that are not renewable.
Well, this is not just about the West and there is likely a better explanation for things than God -- such as a culture which fosters and uses scientific knowledge.
I just hope we aren't getting ourselves in trouble with our "advances".
And we blissfully ignore to war in midst: Liberals spending $11 Trillion in ONE YEAR. National debt that decimate our future.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisCrushing debt that must be either paid off or devalued through inflation. Neither a pretty picture. Watch the F1 and F2 money supplies. They need to force so much cash on the banks they'll loan again. INFLATION.
Now, the Dems wonder why November looks so bleak. Wonder.
Last comment - detecting distant explosives and bombs discredits rest of article - totally impractical when exMINED IN DETAIL.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisFor John E. Quantum, I find myself in aggrement. Served 24 years in the military, much of that in the Middle East. Know that the vast majority of the people there are not intrested in establishing World Wide Domination of Islam, they just want a better (non Western) future for their children. Those who call for total worldwide withdraw of our forces have not learned from history what the price that we would pay for that is, i.e. your neighborhood will become the next battlefield!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe usefulness of this technology is incredible. It can be used not only for defensive purposes on helicopters, but also to protect anything else which could be targeted by devices using those systems. Any technology which can be used to prevent the death of our citizens should be fully explored. These laser systems could potentially save the lives of thousands of men and women serving the country. Also as mentioned in the article, similar laser systems could be put to use in areas such as our borders. We would be able to detect when and where someone entered the nation and would be able to do so in a more cost effect manner. The need to have someone stationed fixed distances apart to monitor the border would disappear, and there would be no need to worry about staying alert and attentive while posted at the stations. This would also be safer, as there would be less danger due to the fact that people are not being positioned to stop those entering. These are only part of a long list of applications where this technology could be used to cut costs and save lives.
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