Overview
Today’s U.S. military faces a wide array of challenges in diverse operating environments and postures around the world. Traditional kinetic weapons are often of limited value in peacekeeping missions and in urban environments with restricted engagement options, or can simply be too costly or ineffective to employ against asymmetric threats. Directed Energy (DE) offers the promise of unique and flexible options to address many of the challenges presented to our war fighters and to augment, not replace conventional capabilities. Recent developments by teams of scientists and engineers at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) in High Energy Laser (HEL), High Power Microwave (HPM), and Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) prototype systems have demonstrated military utility in the laboratory, in field exercises at DoD test ranges, and in operational deployments. Recognizing that DE technologies are ready to transition to war fighting capabilities, NSWCDD has committed to expanding its leadership role for DE by chartering the Directed Energy Warfare Office (DEWO).
Scope
The overall purpose of the DEWO is to provide enterprise wide technical and strategic leadership for the efficient and effective development, acquisition, and fielding of DE systems for the war fighter. DEWO responsibilities include stewardship of basic research, concept development, experimentation, modeling and simulation, war gaming, requirements definition, research and system development, prototyping, system engineering and integration, product development test and evaluation, test and evaluation support through DT/OT, and major product improvements. The DEWO works within and collaboratively across the organizational structure of NSWCDD, the sister Warfare Centers, NAVSEA, and the Navy to ensure the total set of capabilities required to acquire, field, and sustain DE systems is developed and maintained.
Requirements
In order to provide real-time offensive and defensive Directed Energy (DE) solutions, the Directed Energy Warfare Office (DEWO) works to create a strong connection to the warfighter. Our focus is on relevant operational capability needs and requirements by identifying and creating advocacy for “game changing” Directed Energy Technologies that have the key to enhance or transform Navy and Marine Corps missions. As the global security environment becomes increasingly complex and challenging for U.S. defense, DEWO provides alternative and wide ranging deterrent options for U.S. Naval Forces and Combatant Commanders.
Counter-Improvised Explosive Device
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) have posed the most pervasive threat facing coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Defeating this threat to our military is a top priority of the Department of Defense. The Directed Energy Warfare Office (DEWO) is dedicated to helping reduce the threat of IEDs to the warfighter and has focused efforts in the areas of:
- Assessing IED detection technologies and capabilities
- Understanding the susceptibility of IEDs to directed energy
- Developing technologies to exploit IED susceptibilities
- Getting capabilities into the hands of the warfighter to reduce the threat of IEDs
- Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Focus Sheet
Directed Energy Warfare (Radio Frequency)Database
The Department of Defense (DoD) Directed Energy Warfare (Radio Frequency) (DEW(RF)) Database was developed in 1997 as a result of a need in the High Power Microwave (HPM) community for a central repository of test data and documents to support research, analysis, and future testing. The Directed Energy Warfare Office (DEWO) at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Division Dahlgren (NSWCDD) developed the database in coordination with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and others and still houses and maintains the database. In March 2002, DoD promulgated a charter formally establishing the DEW(RF) Database and identifying procedures and roles in the HPM community regarding test data collection and distribution.
High Energy Lasers
High Energy Laser (HEL) Weapons have the potential to add unique capabilities to the Naval and Joint arsenal. Precision engagement at the speed of light with a deep magazine brings new options to address difficult threats in non-traditional ways. Technology advances in both the military and civilian sectors have led to improvements in key HEL system components and fueled innovative approaches to the present development of HEL weapons. The Directed Energy Warfare Office (DEWO) at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) is a leader in the transition of this new capability from science and technology to the warfighting solutions and systems.
High Power Microwave
High Power Microwave (HPM) offers a unique warfighting capability for non-lethal, non-kinetic missions. HPM systems are capable of engaging multiple targets, re-attack, and dramatically reduced collateral damage and reconstruction costs. This capability opens targets for which no engagement option currently exists. Potential mission sets for HPM include disruption of communications networks, infrastructure, and sensors. The Directed Energy Warfare Office (DEWO) has demonstrated effectiveness against a wide variety of electronic systems across multiple source technologies. A Military Utility Assessment (MUA) was successfully completed in 2007 for one concept.
The Maginot’ Open Air Test Site (MOATS)
The Maginot’ Open Air Test Site (MOATS) is located at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Virginia. MOATS has been specifically designed for testing the Radio Frequency (RF) susceptibility of electronic equipment to potential High Power Microwave (HPM) weapon systems. The site consists of two test buildings on a large paved area and a set of shielded trailers for instrumentation and monitoring electronics. The Directed Energy Warfare Office (DEWO) has extensive experience and capabilities in testing, measurement, and design of directed energy systems.
