Guidance

IFA035 - Making Science Fiction a Reality: Future Directed Energy Weapons

Updated 19 November 2024

1. Making Science Fiction a Reality: Future Directed Energy Weapons

Unique Identifier: IFA035

This IFA is paused until further notice. Submissions are currently not being accepted.

Background

Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) are systems capable of discrete target selection that emit laser or Radio Frequency (RF) energy as the primary means to cause disruptive, damaging or destructive effects on equipment or facilities.

The vision of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) is to make Directed Energy Weapons a realistic choice for our armed forces, which can contribute a decisive edge and sustain strategic advantage. The MOD is currently investing in several high-value demonstrators, including DragonFire and several projects integrating both RF and laser-based systems onto military platforms. DASA is supporting the department’s efforts to understand the next steps necessary to develop and introduce Directed Energy Weapons into service across Land, Sea and Air domains.

Scope

This Innovation Focus Area is seeking proposals which present ideas to contribute to the first generation of deployed Directed Energy Weapons and help address departmental decisions as described above. We are interested in novel ideas to enhance the performance and/or reduce the size, mass and volume of the following system and sub system areas associated with laser and RF Directed Energy Weapons:

• Laser and RF Source technology:

  • Amplifiers

  • Magnetrons

  • Fibre technology

  • Antenna design

• System automation:

  • Target recognition

  • Aim-point selection

  • Target prioritisation

  • Engagement management

• Advanced power and cooling technologies that can be ultimately integrated onto military platforms

• Beam control

  • Fine pointing and tracking

  • Operation in adverse environmental conditions

  • Propagation

• Target detection

  • Small non-cooperative targets

• Battle Damage indication

• Test and evaluation

  • The ability to characterise the effect achieved remotely and on small agile targets in real time.

  • Generic diagnostic tools and techniques for characterising the Directed Energy Weapon’s beam.

Successful suppliers will be asked to provide deliverables in the form of reports, presentations and/or demonstrations of innovations which should be detailed as part of the proposal. Collaboration is encouraged to allow for all factors to be considered during the projects, however, it is not mandatory.

Clarification

We are seeking proposals that:

• show a creative or innovative approach within the areas described above

• are between Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 2 -6

• have suggested project values of between £50k-£200k, with a maximum of £500k available at this time

• have a maximum project duration of 12 months

We are not seeking proposals that:

• are identical resubmission of previous bids to DASA or MOD without modification

• provide solutions which are already commercial products

• are solely literature reviews

• offer demonstrations of off-the-shelf products requiring no experimental development (unless applied in a novel way to the challenge)

• offer no real long-term prospect of integration into defence and security capabilities

• offer no real prospect of out-competing existing technological solutions

Exploitation

For near term funded projects (<2 years), the exploitation route will emerge through several upcoming capability decisions and within the wider research programme. For longer term projects (2+ years) the aim will to be exploit relevant innovations in Directed Energy Weapon defence procurements, which is likely to be via strategic defence suppliers.

Find out more about how to apply

Contact a DASA Innovation Partner if you have an idea but are not sure if it is what we are looking for.

Submit a proposal

This IFA is paused until further notice. Submissions are currently not being accepted.