Beam tracking and atmospheric influence on laser performance in defeating UAV:s

Abstract

The threat of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV:s) is well documented during recent conflicts. It has therefore been more important to investigate different means for countering this threat. One of the potential means is to use a laser. The laser may be used as a support sensor to others like radar or IR to detect end recognise and track the UAV and it can dazzle and destroy its optical sensors. A laser can also be used to sense the atmospheric attenuation and turbulence in slant paths, which are critical to the performance of a high power laser weapon aimed to destroy the UAV. This paper will investigate how the atmosphere and beam jitter due to tracking and platform pointing errors will affect the performance of the laser either used as a sensor, countermeasure or as a weapon.