The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).

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(U) The Beam Control Thrust involves the development and transition of advanced optical systems for laser propagation and high resolution imaging applications. This includes technologies for adaptive optics, highly-accurate target acquisition and tracking, precision beam pointing for aimpoint control, and high quality optical components.

(U) This Thrust involves the development and transition of advanced optical systems for laser propagation and high resolution imaging applications. This includes technologies for adaptive optics, highly-accurate target acquisition and tracking, precision beam pointing for aimpoint control, and high quality optical components. A major effort under this thrust is the development and demonstration of weapon-class beam control technology for both ground-based and airborne laser systems.

(U) This Thrust includes the development of the Starfire Optical Range (SOR) and supports the Airborne Laser (ABL) program through ground field experiments which simulate the stressing turbulence conditions and propagation environment expected.

(U) The overall goal of the Beam Control Thrust is to develop and transition advanced optical systems and technologies for both laser propagation and high resolution imaging applications. Specific goals of the Beam Control Thrust includes efforts to:
1. (U) establish the technology base for atmospheric compensation for applications such as the Ground-based Laser (GBL) Anti-Satellite (ASAT) systems, the Airborne Laser (ABL) theater missile defense systems, and imaging for incorporation into systems in the late 1990's and for planned improvements in the 2002 time frame;
2. (U) develop and demonstrate critical optical acquisition, tracking, and pointing technology for high energy laser systems to stabilize and point the beam to a selected aimpoint and to stabilize the image plane for optical imaging applications such as space object identification;
3. (U) develop and demonstrate key high energy laser optical component technologies to enable advanced weapon applications; and
4. (U) develop and validate the modeling and simulation tools needed for accurate performance and mission effectiveness assessments.

• Related Initiatives
• Related Categories
• Road Map Placements
• Additional Hotlinks

Related Initiatives (U):

This Table Is Unclassified.

Name	Title
Airborne Laser Beam Control	Airborne Laser Beam Control Technology
Ground-Based Laser Beam Control	Ground-Based Laser Beam Control Technology
Optical Component Technology	Optical Component Technology

Related Categories (U):

This Table Is Unclassified.

Name	Title
Directed Energy Technology	Directed Energy Technology

Road Map Placements (U):

This Table Is Unclassified.

Name	Title
TECHNOLOGY- RDT&E	SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Requirements, Funding and Additional Hotlinks (U):

(U) None.

Date Of Information (U):

(U) 21 November 1997

(U) Road Map Production Date: 18 June 2001