Improving the Estimation of Military Worth of the Advanced Tactical Laser Through Simulation Aggregation

Fielding High Energy Laser (HEL) weapon systems presents technological challenges as well as employment and financial challenges. The risk associated with the challenges mandates the development process include computer simulation models capable of predicting weapon system performance from the engineering level to assessing the military worth of employing HEL systems in combat scenarios. This research effort focuses on developing laser performance data at a higher fidelity engagement model and integrating the performance data into a mission level model. The propagation of the laser from the transmitting aperture to the target is modeled at the engagement level through the employment of the High Energy Laser End-to-End Operational Simulation (HELEEOS), developed by the AFIT Center for Directed Energy (CDE). The output from HELEEOS directly transfers into data lookup tables for the Extended Air Defense Simulation Model (EADSIM). The EADSIM simulations asses the combat performance of a proposed new HEL weapon, the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL), in a well-defined mission level scenario based on HEL Joint Technology Office (JTO) requirements for future HEL systems. EADSIM is a mission level simulation model included in the Air Force Analytical Tool Kit. Specifically the research explores the development of the necessary information requirements for HELEEOS and EADSIM to accurately model ATL effects and evaluates challenges related to modeling HEL engagements in EADSIM. Results include discussion on EADSIM HEL weapons modeling capabilities, recommendations on general mission level characteristics that should be modeled, and appropriate measures of performance for campaign-level modeling.Air Force Inst of Tech Wright-Patterson AFB OH School of Engineering and Management is the author of 'Improving the Estimation of Military Worth of the Advanced Tactical Laser Through Simulation Aggregation', published 2004 under ISBN 9781423516620 and ISBN 1423516621.