Airborne Directed Energy Weapon Applications for Special Operations Forces

The purpose of this research effort is to investigate and analyze high energy laser and high power microwave directed energy technologies that could enhance special operations forces (SOF) warfighting capabilities within the next 10-15 years. The primary objective of this paper is to present an assessment of the potential military utility of these technologies in support of SOF warfighting roles and missions. The intent of this paper is to offer a broad, strategic perspective on the ways in which directed energy technologies could transform the conduct of future special operations missions. Since the end of the Cold War, the Department of Defense (DOD) has embarked upon a number of efforts to reshape America's armed forces to meet a new set of security challenges. The process of re-tooling our armed forces has been an iterative one, and continues today under the banner of "defense transformation." This paper explores the concept of defense transformation, how directed energy technologies align with DOD transformation constructs, and how they might, or might not, support SOF transformation objectives and future warfighting requirements. To do this, operational measures of effectiveness (MOEs) are derived from various DOD, Air Force, and SOF transformation roadmaps, as well as Air Force and USSOCOM concepts of operation. Using these MOEs as a framework for analysis, this paper presents an assessment of the potential military utility and transformational value of directed energy technologies that could, one day, be developed into air-to-ground weapons for use by SOF strike platforms.