Abstract: A weapon system includes a weapon system illuminator laser system and one or more optical fibers. The weapon system illuminator laser system can produce one or more illuminator laser beams to illuminate at least one object outside the weapon system without destroying the object. The weapon system illuminator laser system is located at a first location within the weapon system. The object, or a second object associated with the object, is to be destroyed or damaged by energy. The one or more optical fibers are configured to transport the one or more illuminator laser beams from the first location to a second location within the weapon system. The one or more optical fibers can provide beam containment and beamwalk maintenance in the presence of mechanical or thermal disturbances. The one or more optical fibers and the weapon system illuminator laser system can withstand mechanical or thermal disturbances.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a multi-beam illuminator laser apparatus and method for providing improved uniformity of laser beam illumination of a distant target or remote object, even in the presence of changing atmospheric conditions. The invention provides a diameter-adjustable array consisting of a variable number of co-parallel, mutually incoherent, polarization-aligned, waist size- and position-adjustable beamlets. The invention includes a beam divider which efficiently uses input or source laser power and because of this may be driven by as few as one laser or by as many as n lasers, where n is equal to the beamlet number. The invention is capable of rapid adjustment of beamlet number and beamlet positions in the field which allows determination of the optimum number of beamlets to use.