US Army's Tactical High Energy Laser Shoots Down Mortar Rounds

H

highsea

New Member
The Tactical High Energy Laser, built by Northrop Grumman for the US Army, shot down multiple mortar rounds Aug. 24, proving that laser weapons could be applied on the battlefield to protect against common threats.

In tests representative of actual mortar threat scenarios, the THEL testbed destroyed both single mortar rounds and mortar rounds fired in a salvo at White Sands Missile Range, NM.

The tests were conducted by the Army as part of the Mobile THEL (MTHEL) program. The MTHEL program is the responsibility of the SHORAD Project Office under the U.S. Army's Program Executive Office for Air, Space, and Missile Defense.

The purpose of the MTHEL program is to develop and test the first mobile Directed Energy weapon system capable of detecting, tracking, engaging, and defeating Rockets/Artillery/Mortars (RAM), cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Army is collaborating with the Israeli Ministry of Defense in the execution of the MTHEL program.

"These successful tests once again prove the versatility of the THEL testbed to counter a wide range of threats, particularly low-tech weapons like mortars," said Patrick Caruana, vice president of Space and Missile Defense for Northrop Grumman Space Technology.

"For the first time, we have a way to protect our forces, and those of our allies, against almost daily mortar attacks. Together with the U.S. Army, we have overcome the technical hurdles and we're ready to move laser weapons onto the battlefield."

As the nation's only laser weapon, the THEL testbed has shot down a variety of threats since 2000, showing its versatility by destroying about three dozen targets, ranging from Katyusha rockets to artillery shells and large-caliber rockets, and now mortar threats as well.

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/laser-04r.html

I haven't heard much about this, but it sounds like they are getting close to a working system. Anyone have more information on this?

-CM
 
I

india2020

New Member
sounds more like the guns from star wars green and red lasers comming out of guns in sequence.Hmmm... id like to hear more of this. :eek


[Mod: Edited. Use less dots and more words!]
 
H

highsea

New Member
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4
Here's a little more:

Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser (MTHEL)
Northrop Grumman Corporation

MTHEL uses directed energy (laser beam) to intercept aerial targets such as rockets, missiles, artillery shells and other aerial threats. The target destruction is achieved by projecting a highly focused, high-power laser beam, delivered by a chemical laser, with enough energy to affect the target, and explode it in midair. This operational concept is offering the first "reusable" interception element. Existing interceptors use kinetic energy kill vehicles (such as fragmentation warheads), which are not reusable.

MTHEL represents a transformational weapon system - the first mobile directed energy weapon that will be able to destroy tactical airborne threats in midair. In order to achieve a high rate of fire, designers are looking into the use of high energy capsules, which can be loaded prior to each shot. The cost per shot, primarily cost of the chemicals used to fuel the laser, is expected to be in the thousands of dollars - far less expensive than the cost of kinetic energy defense systems.

MTHEL is a development of the mobile version of the Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) testbed weapon, developed by Northrop Grumman under a US Army contract. The program is expected to provide a completed prototype by 2007.

Since the year 2000, MTHEL intercepted five artillery projectiles and 28 rocket targets, including the short range 122mm Katyusha type rockets fired singly and in salvos and larger, long range 160mm rockets which has twice the range of the standard katyusha. Most recently, on August 24, 2004 the system intercepted and destroyed mortar bombs, fired both single and in salvos. During the most recent test conducted on May 2004, MTHEL destroyed a large caliber rocket target, containing a live warhead, which was intercepted by the laser weapon.

The purpose of the MTHEL program is to develop and test the first mobile Directed Energy weapon system capable of detecting, tracking, engaging, and defeating Rockets/Artillery/Mortars (RAM), cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

MTHEL will be the first tactical and mobile, directed-energy weapon capable of shooting down in flight airborne targets such as rockets, cruise missiles and other weapons, protecting expeditionary forces or deployed forces as well as civilians areas targeted by such threats.



-CM
 
H

highsea

New Member
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7
They are both chemical lasers, and I think there is some common technology, as Northrup Grumman is a major part of both projects. However, the ABL uses different chemicals, and is much more powerful.

I would say that the M/THEL is a spinoff of the ABL research. Obviously the technical requirements of a ground based (stationary) system are much lower than an airborne system. Also, because the targets are closer and smaller, the power requirements are lower.

Here is a blurb on the ABL.

ABL YAL 1A AIRBORNE LASER, USA

The US Air Force Airborne Laser, (ABL), designated YAL-1A, is a high energy laser weapon system for the destruction of tactical theatre ballistic missiles, which is carried on a modified Boeing 747-400F freighter aircraft. The ABL is being developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory and Team ABL, comprising Boeing, TRW (now Northrop Grumman Space Technologies) and Lockheed Martin. Boeing is responsible for program management, systems integration, battle management system and modification of the 747-400F aircraft. TRW Inc is building the laser systems. Lockheed Martin Space Systems is responsible for the target acquisition and beam control systems. The US Missile Defense Agency (previously called the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization) is responsible for the management of the program and it is executed by the USAF from Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Modification of the aircraft, involving installation of the turret in the aircraft's nose and modifications to accept the laser, optics and computer hardware were completed in May 2002. In July 2002, the modified aircraft took the first of a series of test flights. After receiving airworthiness certification, the aircraft was flown to Edwards Air Force Base, California, in December 2002, for the installation of the beam control system and lasers. The PDRR phase will culminate in 2004 with the destruction of a missile and ABL is planned to enter production from 2006 to 2008. Initial operational capability with three aircraft will be achieved by 2006 and full operational capability with seven aircraft by 2008.

DESIGN

The laser weapon uses three laser beam systems: the powerful killing laser beam or primary beam, a set of illuminating laser beams and a beacon laser. The primary laser beam is generated by a megawatt chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL) located at the rear of the fuselage, which lases at 1.315 micron wavelength. The high power laser beam travels towards the front of the aircraft through a pipe. The pipe passes through a Station 1000 bulkhead/airlock, which separates the rear fuselage from the forward cabins. The high power beam passes through the fine beam control system mounted on a vibration isolated optical bench. Beam pointing is achieved with very fast, lightweight steering mirrors, which are tilted to follow the target missile.

A low power, multiple beam, track illuminating laser (TILL), being developed by Raytheon Electronic Systems, is used to determine the target's range and provides initial information on the atmosphere through which the beam is being transmitted. The illuminating laser tracks the target and provides aiming data for the primary beam.

The Beacon Illuminating Laser (BILL) has been developed by Northrop Grumman Space Technology. The kilowatt class BILL reflects light from the target to provide data on the rapidly changing characteristics of the atmosphere along the path of the laser beam. This data is used to control a set of deformable mirrors in the beam control system. The mirrors introduce tailored distortions into the COIL laser beam to compensate for atmospheric distortions and allow the COIL laser beam to fall on the target.

OPERATION

The ABL is designed to detect and destroy theatre ballistic missiles in the powered boost phase of flight immediately after missile launch. The aircraft loiters at an altitude of 40,000 feet. Missile launch is detected by a reconnaissance system such as satellite or Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft and threat data is transmitted to the ABL aircraft by Link 16 communications. A suite of infrared, wide-field telescopes installed along the length of the aircraft's fuselage detects the missile plume at ranges up to several hundred km.

The pointing and tracking system tracks the missile and provides launch and predicted impact locations. The turret at the nose of the aircraft swivels towards the target and a 1.5 metre telescope mirror system inside the nose focuses the laser beam onto the missile. The laser beam is locked onto the missile, which is destroyed near its launch area within seconds of lock-on. Where the missile carries liquid fuel, the laser can heat a spot on the missile's fuel tank, causing an increase in internal pressure resulting in catastrophic failure. Alternatively, the missile is heated in an arc around its circumference and crumples under atmospheric drag force or its own G-force.
Click to expand...
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/abl/

-CM
 
gf0012-aust

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
The THEL has it's legacy devopment in Israel. It originally started off as an Israeli CTD and has now been co-funded by the US and Israel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top