Process for the adaptive beam control of medium-energy laser weapons

A process for adaptive beam control of medium-energy laser weapons for fighting electro-optical sensors and windows, wherein a medium-energy laser, a control device with a heat image apparatus, a computer and a laser power controller are associated with the medium-energy laser weapon, wherein the process sets a desired laser beam diameter (D) at the targets the process comprising the steps of:

• during a measuring phase, directing the laser beam of the medium-energy laser toward the target with an initially lower emitted laser beam power (L(t)), after which the computer of the control device progressively increases the beam power (L(t)) up to a maximum possible beam power (Lmax) by means of the laser power controller, wherein the laser power (LG(t)) that is reflected as a bright spot off the target and measured by the heat image apparatus is recorded by the computer and wherein the computer determines the maximum (LG,max) of the laser power from the measured bright spot;
• during a phase of calculation, calculating with the computer the critical laser power (Lc), the critical laser intensity (IC), the laser beam diameter (D (t)) at the target, and the maximum (LG,max(tc)) of the reflected laser power (Lg(t)) measured by the heat image apparatus using influential parameters which determine thermal beam expansion and which have been fed into the computer;
• and
• during a phase of fighting, setting with the computer the emitted laser power (L) such that the desired laser beam diameter (D) will be obtained at the target by means of the laser power controller, using the results obtained during the phase of calculation.