Motivation for advanced pointing, tracking and stabilization concepts

This paper explores the need for system solutions to the extremely complex problems in the pointing, tracking and stabilizations of high energy lasers (HEL's). A global optimal solution is not being advocated at this time, however significant improvements in subsystem performances have been demonstrated analytically and experimentally by direct applications of modern estimation and control theory. Further improvements in subsystem performance are possible merely at the expense of judicious application of the now well developed theories.