50 kW laser weapon demonstrator of Rheinmetall Waffe munition

K. Ludewigt; Th. Riesbeck; A. Graf; M. Jung

doi:10.1117/12.2026667

15 October 2013 50 kW laser weapon demonstrator of Rheinmetall Waffe munition

K. Ludewigt, Th. Riesbeck, A. Graf, M. Jung

Proceedings Volume 8898, Technologies for Optical Countermeasures X; and High-Power Lasers 2013: Technology and Systems; 88980N (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2026667
Event: SPIE Security + Defence, 2013, Dresden, Germany

Abstract

We will present the setup of a 50 kW Laser Weapon Demonstrator (LWD) and results achieved with this system. The LWD is a ground based Air Defence system consisting of a Skyguard sensor unit for target acquisition and two laser equipped weapon turrets. The weapon turrets used are standard air defence turrets of Rheinmetall Air Defence which were equipped with several 10 kW Laser Weapon Modules (LWM). Each LWM consists of one 10 kW fiber laser and a beam forming unit (BFU). Commercial of the shelf fiber laser were modified for our defence applications. The BFU providing diffraction limited beam focusing, target imaging and fine tracking of the target was developed. The LWD was tested in a firing campaign at Rheinmetall test ground in Switzerland. All laser beams of both weapon turrets were superimposed on stationary and dynamic targets. Test results of the LWD for the scenarios Air Defence and C-RAMM (counter rockets, artillery, mortar and missiles) will be presented. An outlook for the next development stage towards a 100 kW class laser weapon on RWM will be given.

Citation Download Citation

K. Ludewigt, Th. Riesbeck, A. Graf, and M. Jung "50 kW laser weapon demonstrator of Rheinmetall Waffe munition", Proc. SPIE 8898, Technologies for Optical Countermeasures X; and High-Power Lasers 2013: Technology and Systems, 88980N (15 October 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2026667

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