The Air Force has entered an analysis of alternatives (AoA) phase for an endeavor a key officer called Penetrating Counterair Aircraft (PCA), or what might be the service’s sixth generation platform.
Air Combat Command (ACC) chief Gen. Mike Holmes said Wednesday the potential capabilities a PCA aircraft may provide are fluid. It could be more like a fighter, he said, or it could be more like an attack sub in that PCA could do an excellent job of being hard to see, with high lethality, while operating in smaller numbers. Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanik said Wednesday the AoA began in January and is expected to last roughly 18 months. There is no timeline for briefing leadership on the AoA, she said.
Holmes said the Air Force is also considering whether it should wait for next generation engines that could give the PCA aircraft increased range by including a third airstream. This, he said, makes a fighter engine more efficient. Other considerations, Holmes said, include types of sensors to wait for or perhaps going straight to an aircraft that includes an airborne laser. Holmes’ remarks came at an event on directed energy sponsored by Booz Allen Hamilton [BAH].
The Air Force has a number of directed energy efforts underway. One of those is its self-protect high energy laser demonstrator (SHIELD), which Holmes said will be tested in two phases. The Air Force, he said, plans to acquire, track, aim and fire a 50kw class laser in the transonic and supersonic regions over the next four years.
Holmes said the transonic and supersonic regions add complexity to directed energy testing as engineers have to predict, then guide, a directed energy beam through transonic airflow and then supersonic airflow to have it arrive at the right place with enough concentrated power to do the job. Holmes said firing a 50kw class laser is a key step toward demonstrating a low power laser that can shoot down incoming missiles. Transonic speeds are close to the speed of sound, or 343 meters per second, while supersonic is greater than the speed of sound.
Once the Air Force proves the 50kw concept, Holmes said it will move to test a 150kw laser between 2021 and 2025. This capacity laser, according to Holmes, will allow the Air Force to defeat more challenging inbound missiles at greater ranges. He said it will also add to survivability in the anti-access/area denial environment. Holmes believes successfully fielding a directed energy weapon with magazine depth, the ability to fire quickly and recharge, will allow the Air Force to add capability to older airplanes by allowing them to defend themselves against integrated air defenses.
Holmes believes the Air Force has the money to support investment in both SHIELD and a directed energy laser for an Air Force Special Operations Command C-130J. They’re two different problems, he said, as the C-130J has more room and no the transonic issue. The Air Force, Holmes said, might be able to field the C-130 laser faster. He said service leaders will meet this summer at Kirtland AFB, N.M., to discuss how to move forward with both demonstrations.