High Energy Laser on the Joint Strike Fighter a Reality in 2025?

High energy lasers (HEL) promise speed-of-light engagement, precision effects, and low collateral damage. These characteristics along with a nearly unlimited magazine make HELs attractive for installation on a tactical platform. This paper will consider whether a HEL equipped F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) could be fielded in 2025. To answer this question, three topics will be explored. First, will HELs be sufficiently technically mature to permit installation on a fighter platform? Second, will the key supporting systems, to include power generation and storage, thermal management, and beam conditioning and control, be sufficiently technically mature for installation on a fighter platform? Next, will maturity of the key supporting systems occur in time to support a program to integrate a HEL on the JSF? Finally, are the development schedules and funding for the HEL, key supporting systems, and the JSF synchronized to support a 2025 fielding? The research methodology includes a review of current efforts in each of the technology areas mentioned previously. Additionally, interviews with key personnel involved with the JSF program are used to understand the challenges associated with integrating the aforementioned technologies on the JSF. The research concludes that the technical maturity of HELs and their supporting systems will be sufficiently advanced to permit fielding a HEL equipped JSF in 2025. The key issue that may prevent this from occurring is a lack of dedicated funding, both for development of the enabling technologies and also for the HEL integration effort on the JSF. The author closes the paper by exploring the rationale for installing a HEL on the JSF and considering whether the USAF's proposed long range strike vehicle would be a better candidate than the JSF for HEL integration.