Industry Insights

This exclusive report contains the top presentations from last year’s Directed Energy Systems conference, to provide some insider insight into the experimentation of directed energy weapons and the use of non-lethal solutions. These presentations are being exclusively released ahead of this year’s conference. 

Download the report to hear from the following speakers who will return to this year’s Directed Energy Systems:

United States Air Force’s directed energy weapons experimentation by Michael B. Jirjis, Ph.D., Directed Energy Experimentation Lead, USAF Strategic Development Planning & Experimentation (SDPE)

In his presentation, Dr Jirjis outlines the SDPE’s role in supporting the USAF’s capability development and execution and the Flight Plan and experimentation campaign of Directed Energy Weapons. He also explores industry engagement and partnerships with allied nations. 

Non-lethal directed energy solutions: pros and cons by Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Massimo Annati, Chairman, European Working Group Non-Lethal Weapons 

Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Annati outlines NATO’s policy on non-lethal directed energy and highlights the pros and cons of the various solutions for a wide array of missions, such as C-UAS, C-RAM, C-IED and counter-EO/IR.

Download the report now >>

Key benefits of downloading the report:

• Establish a development pathway for your directed energy system by receiving projected timeframes and programme updates from leading industry stakeholders who will be present at Directed Energy Systems 2019
• Gain insider insight into directed energy weapons experimentation from the USAF’s which will attend Directed Energy Systems 2019
• Learn more about the current use of non-lethal directed energy solutions from NATO which will attend Directed Energy Systems 2019

The key themes of this year’s Directed Energy Systems conference will feature the operationalisation of the technology onto platforms and its use a defensive solution against the various threats that allied nations face in the theatre of operations. To view the full agenda, please click here. 

Defence IQ have curated this News Digest to provide an update on key programmes and DES news from around the world. 

Download your copy now >>

Key benefits of downloading the news digest:

• Learn about top investment and development priorities from countries such as U.S, 
• Develop business strategies by meeting the right people from countries having focus and development plan for the technology at Directed Energy Systems 
• Gain insights into investment and development trends from your peers

Countries around the globe are shifting their focus towards directed energy, as the technology offers both a cost-effective offensive tool against potential adversaries and protection against a wide array of threats on air, land, sea and space. While Defence Ministries are starting to include directed energy in their doctrine, industry leaders are developing solutions to fit the technology on every domain.

Download the news digest to learn more about countries that will attend Directed Energy Systems, such as:

United States

• US Navy focus shift towards directed energy weapons, autonomous systems and unmanned operations
• US Army’s plans to increase investment in directed energy and research into laser and high-power microwave development 
• Space and Missile Defense Command’s contract with Dynetics to develop an experimental 100 kW laser weapon system for its Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles
• Plans to deploy a laser weapon capable of operating at a high altitude by 2023

United Kingdom

• MoD’s competition to find new temporary fortification for small groups of dismounted soldiers, including shielding them from directed energy among others threats
• Plans for the MoD to invest up to £130 million in Directed Energy Weapons

Japan 

• Defence Ministry’s investment of US$ 80 million for research into high-output military lasers that can intercept drones and mortar rounds flying at low altitudes

South Korea

• Navy’s potential plans to fit the KDX-III Batch-II Design of its three new Aegis destroyers with directed energy weapons in future upgrades

Other countries present in the report include:

China

• People’s Liberation Army Navy’s test of a tactical laser system

India 

• Indian Army’s plans to induct directed energy weapons to manage its future security challenges and create powerful lasers with a longer range within its own borders

What is the place and utility of Directed Energy Systems in the military? Defence IQ surveyed DES experts from across the globe to:

• Understand the main areas of interest
• Learn which areas are investment priorities, 
• Discover the main technological and acquisition challenges

Download your copy of the Infographic here >>

Respondants also shared their views on potential adversaries’ advancements on the technology, which companies stand out in the directed energy space and what industry can improve in their approach and offering.

This year’s Directed Energy Systems conference will look closely at the future militarily use of directed energy and the future operationalisation of the technology, themes that are covered in this survey. 

Did you know that weapon systems are the primary area of interest in regards to directed energy?

Download the survey to learn what the market’s views on the following questions:

• When it comes to directed energy, where is your primary interest?
• If any, which form of directed energy systems is of most interest to you at present?
• Is your service / organisation currently procuring a directed energy system?
• Of the following, and to the best of your knowledge, what main obstacle do you face when it comes to procuring directed energy systems?
• Of the following technological ‘gaps’, which do you believe is the most important to solve before your purchase or employment of these systems?
• Are you concerned about the current advancement of directed energy system capabilities by potential adversaries?
• To what extent do you agree with the statement “the current industry offering fits our operational needs and budget constraints”?
• Of the following aspects of directed energy which are you particularly keen to know more about from industry?
• Is there any company that stands out in their offering of directed energy systems?
• What do you believe industry could improve on in their approach / offering of directed energy systems?

In the run-up to Directed Energy Systems 2018, we had the opportunity to discuss with Colonel Michael E. Thompson, Chief, Advanced Weapons Systems (A5/8ZW), HQ Air Combat Command USAF and speaker at the event. He provides here an exclusive preview of this brief at the conference and share insights on what Directed Energy Systems mean for the USAF and how they are using them, the challenges they are encountering and what is the reality of implementing the technology onto a F-35.

In this exclusive interview with Colonel Sean Wilson, Officer in Charge, Cyber Electromagnetic Activities of U.S. Army Europe and speaker at the conference, learn more about what limitations have been found during the Mobile Expeditionary High Energy Laser (MEHEL) test, what type of threats the technology should be able to counter in the future and what challenges militaries face when it comes to making directed energy operational onto platforms.