Directed energy (DE) is an umbrella term covering technologies that produce concentrated electromagnetic energy. A DE system uses DE primarily as a means to disable, damage, or destroy enemy equipment, facilities and personnel. The US, as well as other nations, including the UK, Germany, France, Russia, and China, have all been engaged in long-standing research and development into direct energy systems. This paper provides an introduction on directedenergy systems, their applications, and

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... enges. DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS Warfighters have often leveraged technology to increase their advantage on the battlefield. Some key technologies have underwritten US supremacyprecision strike, satellites, GPS, and advanced communications. As conventional weapons are nearing their peak technical capability, the US military must make smart investment in research and development in the years ahead. Directed-energy weapons are one of a broader set of tools in the warfighter"s toolbox [2] . Examples of directed-energy weapons are shown in Figure 1 [3] A directed-energy weapon (DEW) is a system using DE primarily as a means to disable, damage, or destroy enemy equipment, facilities, and personnel. DEWs are electromagnetic systems capable of converting chemical or electrical energy to radiated energy and focusing it on a target. It transfers energy to a target for a desired effect on humans, which may be lethal or non-lethal. The energy can come in various forms such electromagnetic radiation, microwave, lasers, and maser. Because DEWs are based on radiated energy, the operator can vary the beam to achieve specific result. The effectiveness of an airborne DEW is determined by