Lockheed Martin achieved first light from the Directed Energy Interceptor for Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense System (DEIMOS) system, which verifies that the laser's optical performance parameters align with the system design parameters.

Lockheed Martin's 50 kW-class DEIMOS system is a ruggedized, tactical laser weapon system that can be integrated into the Stryker combat vehicle to deliver robust directed energy capability to the U.S. Army's challenging maneuver-short range air defense (M-SHORAD) mission.

"The 50 kW-class laser weapon system brings another critical piece to help ensure the U.S. Army has a layered air defense capability," said Rick Cordaro, vice president, Lockheed Martin Advanced Product Solutions. "DEIMOS has been tailored from our prior laser weapon successes to affordably meet the Army's larger modernization strategy for air and missile defense and to improve mission success with 21st Century Security solutions."

Why It Matters
Lockheed Martin's DEIMOS first light demonstration is a crucial milestone along the path to helping the Army perform its DE M-SHORAD mission, which is intended to deliver a maneuverable laser system capable of negating unmanned aerial systems, rotary-wing aircraft and rockets, artillery and mortars.

First light measures the expected beam quality of the system while testing end-to-end performance of our game-changing, low-cost Spectral Beam Combination (SBC) architecture. The key benefit of the company's SBC is that power can be scaled while retaining the excellent beam quality of the individual fiber lasers.

In 2022, Lockheed Martin demonstrated Layered Laser Defense (LLD) capability by defeating two surrogate cruise missiles at tactically relevant ranges. This LLD capability:

+ Shares many common elements with the DEIMOS system architecture, such as allowing for a single operator to engage and destroy SHORAD targets.

+ Can be seamlessly integrated into various platforms.

+ Can fit on tactical platforms such as a Stryker vehicle because it was designed with constraints in terms of size, weight and power (SWaP).

What's Next
Utilizing a philosophy of "build a little, test a little, learn a lot," Lockheed Martin will expand the DEIMOS test program in 2023, culminating with field integration tests in 2024. This thorough approach is designed to reduce risk, to enable soldier touchpoints and to provide proof points of compelling mission capabilities.

The Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) is leading the DE M-SHORAD prototyping effort and is expected to transition the program to the Program Executive Office (PEO) Missiles and Space in 2024.

-SPACE STORY-- milspace SW https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/3274487/sda-layered-network-of-military-satellites-now-known-as-proliferated-warfighter/ 275 24-DEC-49 SDA layered network of military satellites now known as "Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture" SDA layered network of military satellites now known as "Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture" space-development-agency-sda-proliferated-warfighter-space-architecture-pwsa-hg.jpg space-development-agency-sda-proliferated-warfighter-space-architecture-pwsa-lg.jpg space-development-agency-sda-proliferated-warfighter-space-architecture-pwsa-bg.jpg space-development-agency-sda-proliferated-warfighter-space-architecture-pwsa-sm.jpg The Space Development Agency's resilient layered network of military satellites and supporting elements is now the "Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture" or PWSA. Space Development Agency
by Staff Writers Washington DC (SPX) Jan 24, 2023 The Space Development Agency's resilient layered network of military satellites and supporting elements is now the "Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture" or PWSA. The architecture, formerly known as the "National Defense Space Architecture," was renamed to more specifically reflect the agency's mission to deliver needed space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter to support terrestrial missions through development, fielding, and operation of a proliferated low Earth orbit (pLEO) constellation of satellites.

The spiral development and fielding of SDA's mesh network has matured successfully, but the constellations' original name did not accurately convey its current scope and purpose. The new constellation name became effective January 23, 2023.

Now integral members of the U.S. Space Force, SDA continues the integration of its space acquisition and operations into the overall national defense hybrid space enterprise, including pLEO advancements to support no-fail missions such as end-to-end missile warning, missile tracking, and missile defense. Maintaining technological and military advantages in space for the warfighter requires developing a resilient hybrid architecture through an integrated diversification of orbits and proliferation of satellites.

The constellation name change will have no impact to the SDA mission. Leveraging speed, delivery, and agility, SDA will continue to quickly deliver needed space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter to support terrestrial missions through development, fielding, and operation of the PWSA.

Related Links
Directed Energy at Lockheed Martin
Learn about laser weapon technology at SpaceWar.com

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Lockheed Martin and Rafael collaborate on high-energy laser system
Bethesda MD (SPX) Dec 06, 2022
Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Ltd., of Israel, have signed a teaming agreement that includes jointly developing, testing and manufacturing High Energy Laser Weapon Systems (HELWS) in the U.S. and Israel. The future joint-development will be based on the assets that have been developed independently by RAFAEL and the Ministry of Defense's Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR and D) within the framework of the IRON BEAM project. The cooperation will be ge ... read more