Ground Based Lasers To Protect Airliners, page 1
Pages: <<  1    2  >>
ATS Members have flagged this thread 0 times


reply posted on 22-1-2004 @ 11:20 PM by intelgurl
Originally posted by ShadowXIX
The THELS can run out of shots just like any other weapon it uses a chemical reaction to create the power to fire the laser after a certain number of shots the system must be refueled before it can fire again. Also the THELS version that is mounted in the 747 was designed to shoot down large missiles like scuds and other types of longer range missles


Shadow,

You are absolutely right, in fact each THEL shot costs about $8,000, however - when used for intercepting longer range munitions such as Scuds, that $8,000 shot is very economical compared to kinetic-energy missiles such as the Patriot PAC-3, which currently costs $3.8 million a shot.

THEL Operational Scenario
The Tactical High Energy Laser uses a high-energy, deuterium fluoride chemical laser to protect against attack by short range unguided (ballistic flying) rockets.

In a typical engagement scenario, a rocket is launched toward the defended area. Upon detection by the THEL fire control radar the radar establishes trajectory information about the incoming rocket, then "hands off" the target to the "Pointer-Tracker Subsystem". The PTS tracks the target optically, then begins a "fine tracking" process for THEL's beam director, which then places THEL's high-energy laser on target. The energy of the laser causes intense heating of the target, which causes its warhead to explode.

History of Military Chemical Lasers

The military began exploring the combat potential of lasers in the 1960s. At that time, researchers focused almost exclusively on chemically activated lasers. Tests at the High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF) here at White Sands have produced impressive results ever since. As early as 1978, a chemical laser blasted through a tethered helicopter.

The THEL became the first laser weapon to track and destroy multiple artillery projectiles in flight. It has destroyed rockets, mortars and artillery shells in mid-flight, but artillery shells have demonstrated that they are harder to track and to destroy because rockets are larger and pressurized; the THEL will be tested on larger missiles further in it's development.

The Future: From Chemical to Solid State

The ultimate goal for the Army’s laser program, however, is a 100-kilowatt solid-state laser. Solid-state are all-electric lasers. Unlike chemical lasers, which require a chemical reaction, the solid-state devices use electric power to convert the energy of the crystal into laser power. In the future, when the Army develops a large solid-state laser, the cost per kill would be measured in cents, not dollars.

For the future combat system, the Army’s next-generation tank, the goal is to have a 100-kilowatt, un-cooled, solid-state laser as both an offensive and defensive weapon.

TRW engineer working on THEL




Night video still of THEL in operation.



Documentation:

Sept. 2001 National Defense Magazine
July 2002 Defense Update magazine
israeli-weapons.com


intelgurl
Pages: <<  1    2  >>    ^^TOP^^



Nano Drones Flying in Formation
  Posted 8 days ago with 15 member flags
FPS RUSSIA
  Posted 13 days ago with 7 member flags
Spinel Thin Transparent Ceramic Armor defeats Barrett .50 Cal BMG
  Posted 12 days ago with 6 member flags
Self-steering Bullet Researched
  Posted 9 days ago with 5 member flags
Shockrounds take out three of your five senses.
  Posted 2 days ago with 5 member flags
Defective Ammunition Warning
  Posted 1 days ago with 5 member flags

Newest topics getting replies, in real-time:

Alien Grey caught in photo ?
  Aliens and UFOs, Posted 6 hours ago, 57 replies
Santorum wants more fracking!!!
  US Political Madness, Posted 15 hours ago, 53 replies
Pass Me My Rifle
  World War Three, Posted 11 hours ago, 52 replies