Location
Holiday Inn, Manatee Rooms A & B
Start Date
25-4-1991 1:00 PM
End Date
25-4-1991 4:00 PM
Description
The United States and its allies face a potential threat of nuclear attack, intentional and accidental, from not only the Soviet Union but other countries that are developing a nuclear ballistic missile capability. The alarming fact is that the U.S. currently has no defense against ICBM attacks. The Department of Defense and scientific communities have become involved in multidiscipline scientific research in an attempt to develop a formidable defense network that would shield the U.S. and its allies from a nuclear attack. One such system in the concept development phase is the Ground Based Laser system. This system, if developed and deployed, will have the capability of destroying ballistic missiles (negating nuclear ballistic missiles is the objective) whose trajectories place U.S./allied locations at risk. The Ground Based Laser (GBL) system consists of ground and space based assets that are integrated to form a defensive shield against ICBMs. This paper describes the GBL system and how it evolved to 'the current: concept. Also included in this paper are some of the najor technology issues that must be resolved for successful deployment and. some of the technology demonstrations that have been conipleted or are in progress.
Paper Session III-C - Ground Based Laser System -Defense at the Speed of Light
Holiday Inn, Manatee Rooms A & B
The United States and its allies face a potential threat of nuclear attack, intentional and accidental, from not only the Soviet Union but other countries that are developing a nuclear ballistic missile capability. The alarming fact is that the U.S. currently has no defense against ICBM attacks. The Department of Defense and scientific communities have become involved in multidiscipline scientific research in an attempt to develop a formidable defense network that would shield the U.S. and its allies from a nuclear attack. One such system in the concept development phase is the Ground Based Laser system. This system, if developed and deployed, will have the capability of destroying ballistic missiles (negating nuclear ballistic missiles is the objective) whose trajectories place U.S./allied locations at risk. The Ground Based Laser (GBL) system consists of ground and space based assets that are integrated to form a defensive shield against ICBMs. This paper describes the GBL system and how it evolved to 'the current: concept. Also included in this paper are some of the najor technology issues that must be resolved for successful deployment and. some of the technology demonstrations that have been conipleted or are in progress.
Comments
DoD Research and Development
Session Chairman: Michael R. Spence, USAF, Commander, 6555th Aerospace Test Group, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL
Session Organizer: Spencer H. Levels, USAF, Space Shuttle Program Manager, Eastern Test Range, Patrick AFB, FL