Phaser

**Phasers**, an acronym for **phased energy rectification**, were a type of directed energy weapon that projected subatomic nadion particle beams. They produced a wide variety of effects, ranging from bioelectric shock to cellular disruption, and came in two different forms of discharge: beam and bolt. Beams were a continuous, collimated stream of energy, while bolts were brief, and often successive, bursts of energy.

Phasers were the standard armament used by Starfleet and were the successor to the phase-modulated energy weapons used by the agency in the 22nd century. The energy type was known as ***hyaakh*** in Rihan and ***pu'*** in tlhIngan Hol, with ship-mounted phaser armaments named *pu'DaH* by the KDF. They were known as ***hles'hrisal*** in Graalen, but colloquially as ***faa'zer***, and as ***wek-zehlek*** and ***fisahr*** in Golic Vulcan.

## Technical advances

### Annular confinement beam jacketing device

Development of the Type X phaser array in the early 24th century revolutionized Starfleet armaments, not only because of the more versatile array layout, but also because of the application of transporter technology. Up to that time, phasers were not usable at warp speeds without overlapping warp fields between the firing vessel and its target. By encasing phaser fire in an annular confinement beam (ACB), engineers within Starfleet Engineering’s Armaments Development Group found that the armaments could overcome this limitation. An Annular Confinement Beam-jacketing device became standard on all future Starfleet starship phaser technology and many vessels were refitted to accommodate the devices.

### Regenerative phasers

To overcome some of the limitations of Starfleet’s original phaser technology, its engineers developed regenerative phasers. Though more an upgrade to standard phasers than a unique type like plasma and soliton, the regenerative properties allowed phaser armaments to be used in dampening fields and other environments that would affect standard operation.

### Pulse phasers

Multiple experiments were undertaken in the 2360s to develop weapons to combat the Borg Collective. The development of nearly perfect emitter crystals allowed for the creation of pulse phasers, which saw immediate implementation in classes like the *Defiant* and *Prometheus*. The cannons operated by putting directed energy through the emitter crystal before storing it in rapid discharge electro-plasma system capacitance banks. High-speed beam-focusing coils were then used to emit pulses of layered spheroids of phaser energy.

### Plasma phasers

Plasma phasers were one of the many weapons technologies that began development after Starfleet’s first contact with the Borg Collective in 2365. The technology was still in the early design stage when a Borg cube devastated Federation forces at the Battle of Wolf 259. Progress faltered after the project hit a roadblock in 2370 and was placed on indefinite hold after the pulse phaser cannon moved to production.

The project restarted in mid 2409 as Starfleet sought to improve the armaments of its vessels. Assistance from Romulan Republic engineers drastically decreased development time and prototypes were being tested by early 2410. Later that year, the USS *Mol'ecurai* was equipped with plasma phasers during its refit, becoming the first Starfleet vessel to use the armaments in active service.

## Starfleet configurations

Starfleet designed and classified its phasers by configuration. As technology progressed, the scale was expanded and by the 25th century it ran from Type I to Type XIII.

Types I, II, and III were handheld, personal armaments. Types IV was initially designed as a terrestrial vehicle armament, but was later implemented into shuttlepods and eventually issued as a heavy, personal weapon. Type V was an integrated system on some auxiliary craft, while Types VI and VII were fixed-mount and turret-mount phaser systems for starships. The Type VIII was the classification of massive units installed on space stations and in planetary defense systems.

Eventually, a Type Vb was developed as a heavier weapon for auxiliary craft, such as on the tactical flyers of the mid-23rd century. The Type IX was created as a point-defense system for starships, to counter small craft and torpedoes. Starfleet restructured the classifications with the advent of the collimated array in the early 24th century.

### Type I

The smallest phaser type, the Type I was a concealable, handheld unit designed to serve as a multitool and a basic defensive armament. Type I units were the most prevalent phaser type amongst Starfleet personnel and were limited in their power settings compared to Types II and III.

### Type II

The Type II phaser was a handheld unit in a sidearm style. It was primarily designed to serve as the standard defensive armament of Starfleet Security personnel and those crew participating in away missions where they may have needed to defend themselves. Units also carried the multitool capabilities of the Type I. These were known as *pu'HIch* by the Klingon Defense Force.

Mark 8 phaser pistol (2234)Mark 45 phaser pistol (2390)Mark 49A phaser pistol (2402)Mark 49B phaser pistol (2403)
### Type III

Designed to be used in high combat situations, the Type III phaser was a handheld, rifle-style configuration. Starfleet personnel were required to complete a certification program at a Starfleet facility before being approved to use these phasers rifles. These types were known as *pu'beH* in tlhIngan Hol.

A variety of new models were developed in the early 25th century as the Federation sought to better arm its Security personnel. At the Military Assault Command Operations R&D facility on Andoria, a pulse phaser variant was developed for use by Hazard Teams.

### Type IV

The Type IV was the classification of phasers initially designed as a light vehicular armament. They were fully self-contained and were later attached to shuttlepods to serve as a multitool and basic defensive armament.

During the Dominion War, some Starfleet Security personnel repurposed Type IV phasers from downed or inoperable shuttlepods to serve as mobile heavy phaser rifles. An evaluation post-war highlighted the effectiveness of such armaments some models were developed to be used as heavy, personal weapons, designated as Type IVc.

A pulse phaser model of the Type IVc was developed alongside the Type III MACO rifle at the agency's facility on Andoria and entered field use in 2404.

Mark 3 Phaser Heavy Rifle (2380)Mark 6 Phaser Heavy Rifle (2402)Mark 6X Pulse Phaser Heavy Rifle (2404)
### Type V

The phaser used on scale 1 shuttlecraft and support craft was designated Type V. It was the first classification that was designed to be fully integrated with a vessel’s systems. It made use of the expanded space and powerplant offered by shuttlecraft to provide a greater power output and extended use time over the self-contained Type IVs. Like the Types I and IV, it was intended as a multitool while also serving as a light defensive armament.

### Type VI

Much like the Type II, the Type VI was developed first as an armament for auxiliary craft and secondarily as a multitool. It was originally classified as Type Vb.

### Type VII

Originally classified as Type IX, the Type VII phaser turrets was designed as a close-in weapon system (CIWS) to counter small combat craft, missiles, and torpedoes. They could be configured for burst or beam firing. With the advent of the Type X in the early 24th century, these fell out of favor. By the late 24th century, some Type VII units were used as short-range, high-powered weaponry on large auxiliary craft. As Starfleet encountered several belligerent species that made use of high-speed drones and small craft in the early 25th century, the Type VII made a return to their starship designs.

### Type VIII

Sometimes referred to as “phaser cannons,” the Type VIII was designed as a fixed-mount defensive armament. Though the units had a limited movement and a narrow firing arc compared to the Type IX, or even the Type VII, the beam banks were much more compact and offered a higher rate of fire. When originally developed, the design was classified as Type VI. Advances varied over the years, with a massive unit, dubbed a “phaser lance” and classified as Type VIIIb, being implemented in the design of the *Federation*-class dreadnought.

### Type IX

The Type IX was a turreted beam bank. The design provided a wide firing arc and served as the mainstay of Starfleet starships through the 23rd and 24th centuries. They were originally classified as Type VII for single units and Type VIII for dual units, though the paired units became the sole configuration when they were reclassified as Type IX. Even after the advent of the Type X, the Type IX remained in regular use in designs where space was limited and the newer arrays could not be accommodated. The units could be configured for both burst and beam firing modes. In Rihan, they were known as *iehyyak*, and *pu'DaH* in tlhIngan Hol.

### Type X

Starfleet engineers developed linked arrays of phaser emitters in the early 24th century. Arranged in strips on a vessel’s outer hull, the Type X units became the primary defensive armament of Starfleet starships.

### Type XI

Units used on space stations and in planetary defense systems were classified as Type XI, although they were originally Type VII. These were significantly larger systems than those found on starships and generally had a shorter range but higher energy output than ship-mounted types. Many facilities would also make use of the Types VII and X.

### Type XII

The Type XII classification was applied to the pulse phaser cannon developed in the late 2360s and first made standard on the *Defiant*-class.

### Type XIII

The development of the phaser lotus system created for the *Chimera*-class prompted the assignment of a new phaser classification: the Type XIII.

## Developers

### United Federation of Planets

* Garand, Inc., Landing, Vega IX (GND)
* HiBeam Energies Limited, Luna City, Luna (HEL)

## Appendices

### Connections

**Propulsion systems:** Impulse • Quantum slipstream • Subspace conduit • Warp

**Science and remote sensing systems:** Sensor

**Tactical systems:** Deflector shield • Disruptor • Dynamic Tactical System • Launch tube • **Phaser** (array • bank • cannon • pulse cannon • turret)

**Utility systems:** Emergency holographic program • Modular Rapid Deployment System

**Mission pods:** Equipment pod • Habitation pod • Tactical pod (Weapon pod) • Transport pod

**Leadership:** Commander-in-chief • Joint Chiefs • Chief of Starfleet External Affairs • Chief of Starfleet Operations • Chief of Starfleet Research and Exploration • Chief of Starfleet Tactical

**Agencies:** Operations (Engineering • Judicial • Materiel Supply • Mission Operations • Personnel Management • Records Service • Shipyards Operations • Starbase Operations) • Research & Exploration (Science • Medical) • External Affairs • Tactical (Intelligence • Security • MACO)

**Notable units:** Ktarn Fleet • Task Force 77

**Facilities:** Deep Space K-7 • Deep Space K-13 • Deep Space 9 • Masamichi Array • Starbase 45-Keepsake • Starbase 82-Maat • Starbase 234-Beskerm • Starbase 247-Vershina

**Agencies:** Starfleet • Diplomatic Corps • Department of Temporal Investigations • Federation Security Agency

**Facilities:** 40 Eridani A Starfleet Construction Yards • Antares Ship Yards • Beta Antares Ship Yards • Copernicus Ship Yards • Laikan Starfleet Shipyards • McKinley Station • Memory Project • New Aberdeen Shipyards • Proxima Maintenance Yards • Salazaar Shipyards • San Francisco Fleet Yards • TL-9139 Starfleet Maintenance Yards • Tranquility Base • Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards

### Sources consulted

* Phaser article at *Memory Alpha*.
* Phaser article at *Memory Beta*.
* *Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual*.
* *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual*.
* Phasers - The Weapons of Star Trek.

### Footnotes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 *The Klingon Dictionary*, 101.