Photonics, Optics and Lasers

In counterinsurgent, counter-terror campaigns, risks associated with conventional weapons in combat operations can severely limit their use and effectiveness, particularly in urban environments. These risks are largely associated with challenges posed by confining intended effects to adversary combatants and forces.

Dr. Joseph Mangano serves as the program manager of the Excalibur program and oversees efforts designed to significantly enhance the mission set of airborne platforms through coherent optical phased array (OPA) technology. Fiber-based OPAs have near-term potential to achieve greater than 40% overall efficiency in a package compact enough for deployment on tactical airborne platforms. Successful integration of these systems would enable new and enhanced capabilities including laser radar (otherwise known as lidar), target designation, laser communications, power beaming, and aircraft self-protection.