Tracking the MTHEL Laser

Technology Review ^ | May 9, 2005 | Sam Jaffe

[Reaganesque]

I was surfing the net and came across this. I certainly hope they do deploy MTHEL. They've already deployed the Zeus system in Afghanistan and Iraq to deal with IEDs. MTHEL would protect our troops from rockets and mortar rounds.

The Israelis have a point about the $3,000 of chemicals per shot to shoot down a single mortar round but, it's available, we know it works and our soldiers sure could use the protection, relatively expensive though it is. Hopefully, progress on the solid state laser weapon system will fulfill it's promise as soon as they claim it will and that problem will be solved, but for now, use what we've got!!

[RandallFlagg]

But, when're we gettin' our lightsabres??

[Southack]

Sending the White Sands prototype to the Green Zone is so clever that I'm actually *impressed* that the move got approved (considering that the project itself has been killed).

Lets trust that MTHEL proves its worth in defending fixed sites from indirect fire.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Maybe it will turn out to be a success as the Patriot missile did in GWI.
I am not a scientist or a engineer, but, couldn't they get the 100 Kilowatts from very high powered capacitors ?

[Reaganesque]

Cost per shot: $3,000

Cost of MTHEL system: Millions of dollars

Look on the face of the insurgent firing mortars into the Green Zone when his mortar goes "Poof" in mid-air: Priceless

[Marine_Uncle]

Thanks for the ping. Yea. Read this earlier on. Rather interesting.

[Chode]

absolutely... might even get it back in the pipeline if it does good

[Marine_Uncle]

I'm all for it if it truley is effective as claimed. How ever.
I wonder if anyone has considered the fact that with such a system operative in the green zone. No low flying choppers could cover our guys SASO in the city of Baghdad, if they quickly where in need of air power. Unless of course they turn of the radar system or disable the laser from being able to automatically track and fire. So after a couple days, of lobing mortars and rockets into the green zone, the goons then would go after our patrols in various parts of the city, now soon as the radar/laser system is turned off to allow help from the air, whamooo, the goons could lob in lots of rockets and mortars at specified sites within the green zone, just as they have done all along. Always seems to be a catch twenty two. Nighty night all. Eyes are bleary.

[Once-Ler]

A fascinating article. The moral dilemma comes down to "what is the monetary value of our soldiers?" Many people are concerned with growing deficits. I don't see this as a realistic military solution in the age of fiscal conservatism.

[PGalt]

BTTT!

[skinkinthegrass]

But, when're we gettin' our lightsabres??

Obi Wan: Soon, LUKE, Soon...the force isn't ready, yet.. :D

[Kozak]

Friendly air assets have IFF transponders, don't have the profile of a projectile in flight. That shouldn't be a problem.

[GOP Jedi]

That's some creative program management. Get your dead prototype in the field, collect some good press and combat exposure, then head back to Redstone to pitch it again, hopefully with a couple of general officers in your pocket.

Notice this story hits the week a certain laser-intense film hits the screens. Yes, this has been well-managed. Whether it's lipstick on the pig or the Next Big Thing remains to be seen.

[jz638]

$3,000 of chemicals per shot

reminds me of Bosnia. The baddies found out that an upwards pointing microwave with the glass smashed out looks a lot like a radar and would attract some expensive US ordinance.

I'd expect a bottle rocket rash to start up wherever this thing is reported to be deployed.

[beebuster2000]

whats $3000/shot? I think I read that the javelin shoulder fired missile is $100,000/ shot and those are used frequently, arent they?
can anyone confirm the $100,000 javelin price tag?

[Reaganesque]

One potential problem is that if the laser fires at a low flying mortar round, the beam doesn't just destroy the target but some of its energy will continue on beyond the target and could cause some collateral damage to anything that may be "behind" the shell at the time. But then, if it's on auto fire, you can program it to not fire until the projectile has cleared the background buildings.

Another interesting question: If MTHEL has sufficient range, a clear field of view and a high priority human target heaves into view, do we take the shot? Hmmmm. I think I would vote yes on that.

[Reaganesque]

Yeah, but Javelins, whatever they cost, take out targets that are far more expensive than a mortar round or an RPG. But still, this will be a temporary situation until they can replace it with a solid state laser. The cost per shot on a solid state laser is basically the cost of the gas to run the generator. As long as the generator is running, you have an unlimited magazine. MTHEL is just proving the concept.

[Rodney King]

I am not a scientist or a engineer, but, couldn't they get the 100 Kilowatts from very high powered capacitors ?

A flux capacitor would do it, but that require 1.21 gigawatts of power to operate.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

What are the measurements of power, as in kilowatts, megawatts, gigawatts.

[Rodney King]

http://www.deloreanmotorcar.com/ec/jigawatts.htm

Here's a link.