Call for Papers

Abstracts are solicited on the development, integration, and operationalization of High Energy Laser (HEL) systems. This track places a dual emphasis on robust tactical systems primed for near-term integration and emerging feather-weight, chip-scale, and ultra-low SWaP technologies (<1kg/kW and <1L/kW) designed for next-generation platforms. Submissions should highlight clear pathways to delivering reliable, high-power, compact, and mobile HEL capabilities to the warfighter, directly addressing technical bottlenecks in lethality, precision, and multi-mission utility. Submissions are also encouraged on modeling and simulation, laboratory and field demonstrations, safety, and contamination management of HEL systems.

Abstracts are invited on High Power Microwave (HPM) systems, focusing on technologies that bridge the gap from experimental prototypes to deployable arsenal assets. Areas of interest include source technologies, antenna designs, pulsed power systems, effects generation, and system-level integration for offensive and defensive applications. Papers/presentations should discuss advancements in compactness, efficiency, repeatability, and operational robustness to support warfighter needs across diverse mission sets.

DEPS invites the submission of abstracts on High Energy Laser (HEL) lethality. This session will showcase advancements in understanding and evaluating laser-target interactions, damage mechanisms, vulnerability assessment, modeling and simulation, experimental testing, and test and evaluation methodologies. Abstracts are encouraged on topics including target characterization, effects prediction, engagement analysis, system effectiveness, battle damage assessment, and emerging approaches that improve the understanding of HEL lethality across current and future operational environments.

DEPS invites abstracts on High Power Microwave (HPM) lethality. This session seeks contributions addressing the mechanisms and assessment of HPM effects on electronic systems and platforms, including susceptibility and vulnerability characterization, coupling phenomena, modeling and simulation, experimental validation, test and evaluation, and effectiveness analysis. Abstracts highlighting advances in predicting, measuring, and assessing HPM-induced mission degradation, functional defeat, or system disruption are encouraged, as are papers describing innovative methodologies, technologies, and lessons learned that advance the state of HPM lethality.

OUSW R&E SCADE is formally soliciting presentations for the Mission Engineering Best Practices Workshop, to be held as part of the DEPS System Symposium. The intent is to gather stakeholders and experts to inform a comprehensive best practices reference document for the mission engineering and directed energy communities. We invite individuals and organizations to share their experiences incorporating directed energy systems into engagement, mission, or campaign-level modeling, specifically detailing the mission task and purpose, modeling methodologies, underlying assumptions, and identified limitations, while providing a critical assessment of the chosen DE system model’s advantages and disadvantages. All submitted abstracts and presentations must be restricted to a classification of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Distribution C or lower. The workshop will conclude with a structured discussion aimed at capturing prevailing trends, lessons learned, and a proposed path forward for the community.

The first day of the workshop is intended to discuss methodologies and approaches used for engagement, mission, and campaign modeling of directed energy systems. We then intend on having a second half-day session to discuss specific results. If warranted, the results session may be at a classification higher than CUI. Thus, we are requesting that two abstracts be submitted for this workshop.

Abstracts are encouraged on the manufacturability, production readiness, and sustainment of Directed Energy systems to ensure they can be reliably fielded and maintained by the warfighter. Areas of focus include scalable manufacturing processes, supply chain considerations, reliability engineering, logistics, maintenance concepts, and lifecycle cost reduction. Emphasis should be placed on strategies that enable rapid transition to production and long-term operational viability.

Submissions are solicited on directed energy battle management, command and control, and engagement coordination to maximize operational effectiveness. Topics include sensor integration, target acquisition and tracking, fire control algorithms, deconfliction with other systems, network-enabled operations, and real-time decision-making tools. Papers/presentations should explore how these capabilities enable seamless integration of DE weapons into multi-domain operations for the warfighter.

Abstracts are invited on the application of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning to enhance Directed Energy systems across the full capability lifecycle. Relevant topics include AI-enabled beam control, autonomous target recognition and prioritization, predictive maintenance, performance optimization in dynamic environments, and intelligent battle management. Submissions should highlight how AI accelerates the transition of DE prototypes into intelligent, adaptive arsenal capabilities.

Abstracts are sought on the bio-effects of directed energy systems, supporting safe and effective employment by the warfighter. Areas of interest include thresholds and mechanisms of specific effects, human vulnerability and related radiometric assessments, protective measures, risk assessment methodologies, physics-level modeling of DE-tissue interactions, and regulatory considerations. Submissions should address the scientific foundation necessary for the responsible development and employment of DE technologies.

The symposium welcomes abstracts on directed energy applications for air and missile defense, particularly counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) and counter-missile operations. Topics include system performance against diverse threats, engagement timelines, swarm defense concepts, integration with kinetic systems, and operational testing results. Emphasis should be on delivering cost-effective, high-capacity DE solutions to protect forces and assets.

Abstracts are solicited on airborne directed energy systems, focusing on platform integration, size/weight/power constraints, and operational challenges in dynamic aerial environments. Areas of interest include podded and installed systems, beam director technologies, platform motion compensation, and multi-platform coordination. Submissions should discuss advancements that bring airborne DE capabilities from prototype demonstrations to warfighter employment.

Contributions are invited on directed energy applications and challenges in the space domain, including space-based systems, ground-to-space engagements, and space-to-ground operations. Topics include orbital considerations, vacuum and radiation effects, constellation architectures, space situational awareness, and counter-space implications. Papers should address how DE technologies can support space superiority and deliver new capabilities to the warfighter.

Abstracts are encouraged on non-weapon directed energy applications such as power beaming, sensing, and communications, highlighting dual-use opportunities and enabling technologies. Areas of interest include long-range wireless power transmission, high-resolution remote sensing, free-space optical communications, and supporting infrastructure. Submissions should explore how these applications complement weapon systems and contribute to overall DE ecosystem development for the warfighter.

The symposium seeks abstracts on Counter Directed Energy Warfare (CDEW), addressing detection, mitigation, hardening, and operational responses to adversary DE threats. Topics include vulnerability assessments, protective materials and coatings, tactical countermeasures, intelligence support, and doctrine development. Emphasis should be placed on ensuring warfighter resilience and maintaining operational advantage in contested DE environments.

Abstracts are invited on beam control technologies that enable precise, robust, and efficient delivery of directed energy effects across operational environments. Topics of interest include adaptive optics, wavefront sensing and correction, beam stabilization, jitter mitigation, target tracking, pointing and tracking systems, beam director technologies, and integrated control architectures. Submissions are encouraged on modeling and simulation, laboratory and field demonstrations, hardware innovations, and algorithms that improve beam quality, engagement accuracy, and overall system performance for next-generation directed energy capabilities.

The symposium welcomes abstracts on atmospheric propagation and its impact on directed energy system performance. Areas of interest include atmospheric turbulence, absorption, scattering, thermal blooming, aero-optical effects, weather characterization, environmental sensing, propagation modeling and simulation, and measurement techniques. Papers should address methods to predict, characterize, and mitigate atmospheric effects, as well as advances in environmental awareness and compensation techniques that improve the effectiveness, reliability, and operational employment of directed energy systems in realistic war-fighting conditions.