TACTICAL LASER WEAPON SYSTEM FOR HANDLING MUNITIONS

A laser weapon system and method are provided for detecting and engaging a large number of target munitions with a plurality of independently steered laser beams, and is particularly adapted to defend against multiple biological and chemical warfare munitions. The system includes a laser generator for generating laser energy and a segmented mirror having an array of controllable mirror segments for dividing the laser energy into a plurality of steerable laser beams. The low energy divided laser beams are directed through an amplifier to achieve high energy laser beams which are output in a fanned array within a shield zone. A detector senses the presence of munitions. An illuminator laser continually sweeps the shield zone and a receiver receives reflections from munitions which fall within the shield zone. The relative position of the detected munitions within the shield zone are compared to the position of laser beams and control signals are determined so as to steer the laser beams to engage the detected munitions within the shield zone and attempt to destroy the engaged munitions.