Science and Global Security, 18:1–60, 2010
Copyright
C
Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
ISSN: 0892-9882 print / 1547-7800 online
DOI: 10.1080/08929880903422034
Assessment of Long Range
Laser Weapon Engagements:
The Case of the Airborne Laser
Jan Stupl
1
and Götz Neuneck
2
1
Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC), Stanford University,
Stanford, California, USA
2
Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy (IFSH) at the University of Hamburg,
Hamburg, Germany
This article presents a method developed to assess laser Directed Energy Weapon en-
gagements. This method applies physics-based models, which have been validated by
experiments. It is used to assess the capabilities of the Airborne Laser (ABL), a system
for boost phase missile defense purposes, which is in development under supervision of
the U.S. missile defense agency. Implications for international security are presented.
The article begins with a general introduction to laser Directed Energy Weapons
(DEW). It is notable that several laser directed energy weapon prototypes have recently
become operational for testing. One of them is the ABL, a megawatt-class laser installed
into a cargo aircraft. It is concluded that only the ABL could have significant political
impact on an international scale at the moment. Hence, the remainder of the article
focuses on the assessment of that system. The laser intensity, the induced temperature
increase of a target and the impact of this temperature increase on the mechanical prop-
erties of the target are calculated for different scenarios. It is shown that the defensive
capability of the ABL against ballistic missiles is limited. Even a successful laser en-
gagement that deflects a missile trajectory from its intended target can have negative
impact for third parties, as missile warheads will most likely not be destroyed.
INTRODUCTION
The first laser was put into operation by Theodore Maiman in 1960.
1
Today,
lasers are widely employed in civilian and military settings. Civilian applica-
tions include CD-players and laser welding, using power levels between mil-
liwatts and kilowatts. In the military arena, laser ranger finders and laser
guided bombs have been used since the 1970s.
2
In the case of range finders and
Received 12 July 2009; accepted 12 November 2009.
Address correspondence to Jan Stupl, Center for International Security and Coopera-
tion (CISAC), Stanford University, Encina Hall, 616 Serra Street, Stanford, CA 94305-
6165. E-mail: stupl@stanford.edu
1
