Documents / Report
This Defense Intelligence Reference Document from the Defense Intelligence Agency, dated 1 November 2010, was produced under the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications (AAWSA) Program. It describes nanosatellite technologies and proposes launching nanosats into orbit with laser Lightcraft propulsion. It also covers a weapon mission selection study and multi-megawatt laser options. The author recommends that the Department of Defense and NASA bring Lightcraft R&D back to the United States and restart the X-50LR flight demonstration program.
“The Advance”13 pages
Air-to-Space (Ballistic Threats) Air Launch: H~12 km V~M0.8 ........... I Enemy/ Ballistic Missiles JI Figure 15. Air-to-Space Concept: Appropriate rotation and translation of a high-energy laser beam, emanating from a moving aircraft, guides and propels a Lightcraft toward a nearly head-on collision with an incoming ballistic missile; intermittently, the laser illuminates the target for guidance updates and for terminal semi-active seeker homing and end-game maneuvering [26l. ASSUMED LASER AND LIGHTCRAFT LIMITATIONS Beamed power levels achievable with envisioned high-energy laser technology are assumed to be no more than about 10 MW for ground/sea-based lasers, and no more than about 2.0 MW for the much lighter and smaller airborne lasers installable on Boeing 747, B-1 Lancer, or C-130 subsonic aircraft. Lightcraft takeoff masses no more than about 20 kg can be accelerated to orbital velocities by maximum ground/sea- based laser power levels, and Lightcraft takeoff masses no more than about 4 kg to 8 kg, depending on the magnitude of velocity and acceleration needed, can be accelerated to very high velocities by the lower allowable masses and power levels of airborne lasers. LIGHTCRAFT TRAJECTORY AND MISSION LIMITATIONS Identified trajectory and mission limitations C26l are: • Small allowable angle between centerlines of the laser beam and Lightcraft vehicle axes before significant thrust reduction occurs. • Small allowable angles-of-attack (angle between Lightcraft centerline and velocity vector) before significant thrust reduction occurs. • Limited capability for engaging multiple missile or aircraft threats in allowable time interval because of relatively long laser beam-riding time against each threat. Additional Lightcraft hardware needed for some tactical missions [26l include: 28 UNCLASSIFIED/;CFQA: QFFI&lallk 1!181! 8Hk¥
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Report, from the dia collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. 77 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.