High PRF Tracking Illuminator Laser

Directed Energy (DE) technologies provide our armed forces with a unique capability to defend against multitude threats with great precision and minimal collateral damage at minimal cost per engagement. The need for capable DE systems is supported by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering who has identified DE systems as a top modernization priority.  All Directed Energy laser weapons require a beam control system which enables precision aiming of the laser beam at long distances to typically small, agile, and fast-moving targets.   Beam control systems are a crucial subsystem of every Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system and support the entire kill-chain from target acquisition and coarse tracking to fine aimpoint selection and atmospheric distortion compensation. A Tracking Illuminator Laser (TIL) is a key component of beam control systems and provides illumination at the target for precision target tracking, ranging and aimpoint selection/maintenance. The TIL has demanding performance requirements beyond the state-of-the-art and is currently one of the performance-limiting subsystems in DEW systems.   The Air Force’s unique TIL requires a high power (500 W) and high Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF) laser operating in the eye-safe wavelength range.  The high PRF (>20 kHz) is required to adequately sample the high-temporal frequency tilt introduced by aero-optic disturbances from turreted supersonic aircraft.