RF Directed Energy Weapons for Explosive Hazard Neutralization

Home / Articles / External Non-Government

February 13, 2017 | Originally published by Date Line: February 13 on

The “Improved Neutralization” activity under Manoeuvre through Adaptive Dispersed Operations​ (ManADO) Explosive Hazard Avoidance 02DA02.07 examines ways to enhance the Canadian Armed Forces Counter-IED system by addressing explosive hazard neutralization with a path towards exploitation (impact) while seeking to avoid duplication of efforts through systems available from our allies, or which are being addressed by another DRDC activity. The explosive hazard neutralization capabilities of High Energy Lasers are being addressed under the Land Weapon Systems project by DRDC – Valcartier Research Centre. A complementary effort is herein proposed which will access the knowledge base of our allies through a modest investment in explosive hazard neutralization using Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapons (RF DEW).

Significance to Defence and Security – This project will gather evidence to support or reject the military utility of RF DEW for the purposes of explosive hazard neutralization. This will guide doctrine, create concept(s) of operations, provide training needs analysis, etc, and will include S&T analysis of any vulnerability that may exist within the CAF capability that could be realistically addressed by RF DEW in the mounted Counter-IED role. 

A thorough description of the background scope study approach, resources, constraints and study plan for this activity are provided by Faust [1]. While that document addresses improved detection, the discussions are equally applicable to improved neutralization, and are briefly summarized below.

The “Improved Neutralization” activity under Manoeuvre through Adaptive Dispersed Operations (ManADO) Explosive Hazard Avoidance Neutralization (EHA(N)) work breakdown element (WBE) 02DA02.07 focusses on the DtD (Defeat the Device) CIED (Counter Improvised Explosive Device) line of operation. The proposed Courses of Action which fall out of this exercise are those that:

enhance the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) CIED system by addressing explosive hazard neutralization with a path towards exploitation (impact);
are not available as Commercial or Military Off-The-Shelf or from our allies; and
are not being addressed by another DRDC activity.

Given the 02DA02.07 timeline and resources, efforts will focus on higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL) technologies by ensuring sufficient development of knowledge, expertise, and facilities to advise the CAF on existing technologies, or those available in the near near-term.

The original ManADO EHA(N) team comprised Geoff Coley and Kevin Russell of Defence Research and Development Canada’s Suffield Research Centre, and Jean Fortin of Defence Research and Development Canada’s Valcartier Research Centre, with the Valcartier Centre’s contribution chiefly addressing High Energy Laser (HEL) neutralization. The way DRDC activities have developed, HEL is already being covered under the Land Weapon Systems project. There is little or nothing to be gained by spending ManADO resources on HEL outside of Valcartier Centre’s Land Weapon System work. Hence, ManADO EHA(N) will simply observe the Valcartier Centre’s HEL information and recommendations, but will not expend resources on parallel efforts on HEL.