A study and analysis of high energy laser (HEL) systems aboard tactical aircraft is performed. The FA-18E/F Hornet and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), equipped with solid-state HEL systems, are the main subjects of the study. Considerations of power generation and thermal management for a fighter-sized HEL system and aero-optic effects on beam propagation from high and medium altitude platforms are examined. An overview of system capabilities details how the HEL system will be more difficult to incorporate into legacy strike aircraft, but may be feasible for future aircraft such as the JSF. Tactical flight simulations are used to study and develop potential concepts of operation (CONOPS), using realistic scenarios and threat environments. Results show that a tactical HEL will not be a stand-alone weapon in combat, but will have many potentially useful tactical applications. Another study of a high energy free electron laser (FEL) system aboard C-130J-30 Hercules shows that such a system is feasible. Finally, a study of the FEL shows that strong field extraction can be optimized using undulator tapering. / US Marien Corps (USMC) author.

Recent developments in post-stall maneuverability and thrust vectoring have opened up new possibilities in the field of air combat maneuvering. High angle of attack maneuvers like the Cobra, Herbst Reversal, and Chakra demonstrate that today's cutting edge fighters are capable of exploiting the post-stall flight regime for very dynamic and unconventional maneuvers. With the development and testing of Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles, even greater maneuvering ability is expected. However, little work has been done to make use of this increased ability by optimizing a wide range of combat maneuvers. The goal of this thesis was to begin that process by finding several time-optimal air combat maneuvers that could be employed by current and future high performance fighter aircraft.

This thesis describes original research that examines the extent to which organisational culture, and psychosocial aspects specifically, relate to individuals??? ???normal??? performance within Australian Defence Force (ADF) aviation. The primary rationale for the research relates to the ???safety record??? of ADF aviation, whereby more than fifty ???peace time??? fatalities have occurred in ADF aviation accidents since 1990 and many of these have links to organisational culture attributes. The secondary rationale relates to a more general perspective: previous research identifies human functioning in military aviation ??? more than any other aviation domain ??? as being dependent upon psychosocial attributes including interpersonal collaboration, communication and coordination. However, the depth to which such qualities impact the safety of a sociotechnical system remains substantially uncharted. This thesis firstly examines both scientific and Australian military literature on organisational behaviour, culture and human factors. Subsequently, it describes the design and implementation of a new 45-item questionnaire ??? the Australian Defence Force Aviation Questionnaire (ADFAQ). More than four hundred ADF aircrew and engineers completed the ADFAQ. The data analysis involved quantitative and qualitative consideration of survey responses and comparisons between numerous demographic criteria. Following this, the thesis describes the design and implementation of an interview study that was designed to both cross-examine key ADFAQ results and explore more deeply other issues that were only superficially identified by the (largely psychometric) composition of the ADFAQ. The research results offer three main contributions to scientific knowledge. These relate to: (1) the efficacy of triangulated and contextualised methodology in building an understanding of organisational culture; (2) the nature of the safety culture concept and its relationship with organisational culture; and (3) rank-based homogeneity of attitudes. This research shows that survey methodologies are not a panacea, but they can illuminate the nature of attitudes to safety and provide empirical guidance for other methods to explore more deeply the cultural roots of such attitudes and associated behaviours.

Thesis--School of Advanced Airpower Studies, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., 1997-98. / Title from title screen (viewed Oct. 10, 2003). "October 1999." Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--School of Advanced Airpower Studies, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., 1991-92. / Title from title screen (viewed Oct. 28, 2003). "June 1993." Includes bibliographical references.

Not available / text

This thesis describes original research that examines the extent to which organisational culture, and psychosocial aspects specifically, relate to individuals??? ???normal??? performance within Australian Defence Force (ADF) aviation. The primary rationale for the research relates to the ???safety record??? of ADF aviation, whereby more than fifty ???peace time??? fatalities have occurred in ADF aviation accidents since 1990 and many of these have links to organisational culture attributes. The secondary rationale relates to a more general perspective: previous research identifies human functioning in military aviation ??? more than any other aviation domain ??? as being dependent upon psychosocial attributes including interpersonal collaboration, communication and coordination. However, the depth to which such qualities impact the safety of a sociotechnical system remains substantially uncharted. This thesis firstly examines both scientific and Australian military literature on organisational behaviour, culture and human factors. Subsequently, it describes the design and implementation of a new 45-item questionnaire ??? the Australian Defence Force Aviation Questionnaire (ADFAQ). More than four hundred ADF aircrew and engineers completed the ADFAQ. The data analysis involved quantitative and qualitative consideration of survey responses and comparisons between numerous demographic criteria. Following this, the thesis describes the design and implementation of an interview study that was designed to both cross-examine key ADFAQ results and explore more deeply other issues that were only superficially identified by the (largely psychometric) composition of the ADFAQ. The research results offer three main contributions to scientific knowledge. These relate to: (1) the efficacy of triangulated and contextualised methodology in building an understanding of organisational culture; (2) the nature of the safety culture concept and its relationship with organisational culture; and (3) rank-based homogeneity of attitudes. This research shows that survey methodologies are not a panacea, but they can illuminate the nature of attitudes to safety and provide empirical guidance for other methods to explore more deeply the cultural roots of such attitudes and associated behaviours.

Thesis (M.M.A.S.)--School of Advanced Airpower Studies, 1995. / Subject: Command and control and responsiveness of close air support. Cover page date: June 1995. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2005. / Thesis Advisor(s): R.M. Howard, I.M. Ross. Includes bibliographical references (p. 215-217). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S. in Applied Physics)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2005. / Thesis Advisor(s): William B. Colson. Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-81). Also available online.