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CourseDefense, Military Engineering & Land Systems Applications open

Diploma in Directed Energy Systems Validation

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in directed energy systems validation. 8 modules covering directed energy fundamentals, verification and validation engineering, beam and high-power RF metrology, test safety, legal and ethical review, and test facilities and results analysis, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration800 hours · 6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the physical principles of laser and radio frequency directed energy systems.

02

Design verification and validation plans for high-power systems.

03

Apply beam and electromagnetic field metrology.

04

Assess hazards and safety distances in line with standards.

05

Integrate the legal review of new systems into the validation process.

06

Manage safe test facilities.

07

Produce rigorous test and evaluation reports.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Test and evaluation engineers.
  • Laser safety officers.
  • Optics and photonics engineers.
  • Radio frequency metrology specialists.
  • Weapons legal compliance analysts.
  • Systems engineers.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the defence sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • IEC 60825-1 (safety of laser products)
  • ANSI Z136.1 (safe use of lasers)
  • MIL-STD-1425A (safety design requirements for military lasers)
  • STANAG 3606 (evaluation and control of laser hazards)
  • IEEE C95.1-2019 (exposure to electromagnetic fields)
  • MIL-STD-882E (system safety)
  • CCW Protocol IV (blinding laser weapons)
  • DoDI 5000.89 (test and evaluation)
  • Zemax OpticStudio
  • MATLAB
  • COMSOL Multiphysics
  • LabVIEW
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1High-power lasers: types
  2. 1.2Fibre lasers and beam combining
  3. 1.3High-power microwave sources
  4. 1.4Atmospheric propagation
  5. 1.5Turbulence and adaptive optics
  6. 1.6Thermal effects on materials
  7. 1.7Civil high-power applications
  8. 1.8Overview of international programmes
  9. 1.9Technological limitations
  10. 1.10Case study: atmospheric propagation analysis
  1. 2.1The test and evaluation cycle
  2. 2.2Measurable performance requirements
  3. 2.3Test and evaluation master plans
  4. 2.4Developmental and operational testing
  5. 2.5Modelling and simulation in validation
  6. 2.6Success criteria
  7. 2.7Test risk management
  8. 2.8Evidence documentation
  9. 2.9Independent reviews
  10. 2.10Workshop: structure of a test and evaluation plan
  1. 3.1Power and energy measurement
  2. 3.2Beam profilers
  3. 3.3M² beam quality
  4. 3.4Divergence measurement
  5. 3.5Wavefront sensors
  6. 3.6Calorimetry
  7. 3.7Measurement uncertainty
  8. 3.8Traceable calibration
  9. 3.9Remote measurements
  10. 3.10Lab: characterisation of a low-power beam
  1. 4.1Measurement of intense fields
  2. 4.2Field probes and sensors
  3. 4.3Short-pulse measurement
  4. 4.4Reverberation chambers
  5. 4.5Susceptibility testing
  6. 4.6Instrumentation shielding
  7. 4.7Field measurement uncertainties
  8. 4.8Personnel safety
  9. 4.9Exposure standards
  10. 4.10Practical exercise: field measurement in a test chamber
  1. 5.1Laser classification to IEC 60825-1
  2. 5.2Nominal ocular hazard distance
  3. 5.3MIL-STD-1425A requirements
  4. 5.4Hazard control to STANAG 3606
  5. 5.5Exclusion zones
  6. 5.6Aviation safety in outdoor testing
  7. 5.7Protective equipment
  8. 5.8Laser safety officer
  9. 5.9MIL-STD-882E system safety
  10. 5.10Case study: calculation of safety distances
  1. 6.1Article 36 of Additional Protocol I
  2. 6.2Protocol IV on blinding laser weapons
  3. 6.3Principles of distinction and proportionality
  4. 6.4Legal review within the validation process
  5. 6.5Transparency and international oversight
  6. 6.6Research ethics
  7. 6.7The engineer's responsibility
  8. 6.8Export controls
  9. 6.9International academic debate
  10. 6.10Workshop: structure of a legal review
  1. 7.1Indoor test facilities
  2. 7.2Outdoor test ranges
  3. 7.3Instrumentation and data acquisition
  4. 7.4Statistical analysis of results
  5. 7.5Model validation through testing
  6. 7.6Test data management
  7. 7.7Test and evaluation reports
  8. 7.8Lessons learned
  9. 7.9Laboratory accreditation
  10. 7.10Practical exercise: statistical analysis of test data
  1. 8.1System definition and scope
  2. 8.2Requirements to be verified
  3. 8.3Test and evaluation plan
  4. 8.4Required metrology
  5. 8.5Safety analysis
  6. 8.6Legal review
  7. 8.7Analysis of simulated results
  8. 8.8Evaluation report
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

The programme is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Zemax OpticStudio, MATLAB, COMSOL Multiphysics and LabVIEW, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: laboratory measurement of a beam's power distribution, assessment of ocular safety distances and review of a test and evaluation plan. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: IEC 60825-1, ANSI Z136.1, MIL-STD-1425A, STANAG 3606, IEEE C95.1-2019, MIL-STD-882E, CCW Protocol IV, DoDI 5000.89.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of IEC 60825-1, ANSI Z136.1, MIL-STD-1425A, STANAG 3606 and MIL-STD-882E applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Zemax OpticStudio, MATLAB, COMSOL Multiphysics and LabVIEW, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a validation project for a directed energy system, with test and evaluation plan, metrology, safety analysis, legal review and evaluation report, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Define system and requirements
Define the system, its scope and the requirements to be verified.
Build the test plan
Draw up the test and evaluation plan and the metrology it requires.
Analyse safety
Carry out the safety analysis, including hazard distances and exclusion zones.
Conduct the legal review
Structure the legal review of the system within the validation process.
Final project
Analyse simulated results, write the evaluation report and present it for final review with your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Test and evaluation engineerLaser safety officerOptics and photonics engineerRadio frequency metrology specialistWeapons legal compliance analystSystems engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with Zemax OpticStudio, MATLAB, COMSOL Multiphysics and LabVIEW, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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