SEP17-04:   New Naval Directed Energy Center to impact Future Weapons for Naval and Joint Forces
From Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren

DAHLGREN, Va. - The Navy opened its new Naval Directed Energy Center (NDEC) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren Sept. 10.

The 23,000 square foot building supports directed energy systems and applications, which use electromagnetic energy to project military force and augment conventional capabilities.  The facility is the first in a series of planned construction projects designed to accommodate increasing directed energy activity at NSWC Dahlgren, a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA).

"This ribbon-cutting celebrates NAVSEA'S investment in the Navy's future," said NSWC Dahlgren Division Commander Capt. Sheila Patterson. "This new Naval Directed Energy Center will double the space available for developing our directed energy programs, and provide laboratories, computing spaces and offices to help us get the latest technology to our warfighters as soon as possible and protect them from harm's way."

Directed energy systems offer unique alternatives to traditional kinetic weapons such as guns and bombs because a myriad of targets can be engaged with more precision and variable effects.  Military officials foresee NDEC as the Navy's center of excellence for directed energy where complex systems engineering and integration problems can be solved, and cutting-edge solutions made a reality for U.S. troops.

"Directed Energy Weapons are a critical game-changing technology for the Navy-Marine Corps Team," said James Thomsen, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition.  "It's a technology that we need to understand better.  We need to develop it and use it wisely."

Potential advantages provided by directed energy weapon system options include, "less collateral damage, more affordability, less sustainment costs, temporary and reversible affects on targets in addition to a limitless magazine compared to kinetic projectiles and very low cost-per-engagement," said Thomsen.

"The standing up of the Naval Directed Energy Center is a perfect example of how Dahlgren is leading the way in developing and fielding directed energy warfare solutions, technologies and systems for our Sailors and Marines," said Susan Hudson, NSWC Dahlgren Electromagnetic and Sensor Systems department head.  "Our team of government employees, academia and contractors are harnessing various directed energy disciplines in order to develop systems that will enhance what's available to warfighters in order to achieve mission success in the changing operational environment."

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