BlueHalo has successfully delivered and installed its Laser
Instrumented Diagnostic Suite to the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Virginia.
LIDS is a set of instruments that measure High-Energy Laser performance and atmospheric conditions. This helps operators understand the laser’s performance and atmospheric impact before conducting expensive flight tests.
BlueHalo will provide a total of four LIDS units to various test sites in the U.S., with this being the first. The contract for these units was awarded in April 2020, and a successful prototype demonstration was conducted in April 2022.
“Directed energy offers improved accuracy and faster response times along with a lower cost per shot than traditional kinetic weapons systems, fueling the growth of high energy laser weapons systems for military solutions,” said Dr. Vikram Manikonda, BlueHalo chief technology officer. “Before LIDS, there was no comprehensive diagnostic tool to support the significant testing and calibration requirements of these systems. LIDS is a critical new resource for our national defense customers–increasing the accuracy and efficiency of laser weapons while reducing test and operational costs to support mission success.”
LIDS is a universal tool that can diagnose any High-Energy Laser system with laser power measurements up to 150 kW. It can provide data on laser power and irradiance before and after shots, including details such as maximum power, peak beam irradiance, spot size, centroid and centroid drift, jitter and total fluence.
LIDS also measures meteorological data like wind speed and direction, temperature, pressure and relative humidity to provide operators with a better understanding of atmospheric conditions and impact.
This atmospheric sensor data is integrated with Laser Environmental Effects Definition and Reference to document molecular absorption and scattering, aerosol absorption and scattering, and total transmission percentage. LIDS is housed in a 30-foot trailer, making it easy to transport and position.
“With solutions like the LIDS diagnostic tool and our suite of LOCUST laser systems, BlueHalo is proud to offer a full range of innovative HEL technologies from research and testing to deployed protection,” said Jimmy Jenkins, BlueHalo sector president. “These capabilities are a prime example of BlueHalo’s directed energy superiority and commitment to meeting the needs of our customers at mission speed.”
BlueHalo plans to deliver all four LIDS units to Defense Department partners from multiple services by September 2023.