The Air Force should take care not to stretch its resources too thin across competing directed-energy programs as multiple airborne laser efforts try to move forward, the service's chief scientist said Tuesday.
Right now, the Air Force is pursuing a defensive laser pod for the F-15 through the Self-Protect High-Energy Laser Demonstrator, another podded, possibly multipurpose laser for Air Force Special Operations Command's AC-130J gunship and a defensive laser for the KC-135 tanker. Inside Defense reported last month the Air Force plans to integrate a laser, called the High-Energy Laser Flexible Prototype, onto an as-yet-undetermined air vehicle to protect airborne platforms and defend bases.
The Air Force said in March it needs nearly $1.3 billion in the next five years to advance its laser and microwave research and prototypes.
At the annual Defense One Tech Summit on June 26, Richard Joseph told reporters the service is mulling which laser project is most important based on mission rather than technical maturity. While SHiELD is touted as the service's flagship laser effort, Joseph said another project like the tanker-defense weapon could take priority.
He also noted that the programs could move faster, but need additional experienced personnel to do so. Lasers are currently slated to mature into the 2020s, drawing criticism from some like Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) who believe the service is moving too cautiously.
Directed-energy research is a cornerstone of the Air Force's current science-and-technology efforts, following a 2017 flight plan that outlined three uses for the new laser and microwave weapons: base defense, precision strike and aircraft protection. Officials are also planning a four-part experimentation campaign to pursue those goals.