Abstract: Time-dependent wave-optics simulations of thermal blooming and turbulence effects on airborne laser beam propagation are described for a line-selected HF laser at approximately 2.93 $mu@m wavelength. A near-horizontal propagation path is assumed together with the appropriate beam motion and slewing to correspond with a typical airborne laser theater missile defense engagement scenario. Results both with and without phase correction are presented for blooming, turbulence, and combined turbulence and blooming. The simulation results for uncorrected blooming and for uncorrected turbulence are in reasonable agreement with well-established scaling-model predictions. In the absence of turbulence, the blooming effects are negligible compared with the effects of turbulence. With correction of combined turbulence and blooming, the blooming effects are increased sufficiently to reduce the average on-axis Strehl by 40%. !5
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