Tactical High Energy Laser (Gotta See Video!)

You Tube ^ | 7/8/06 | You Tube?

[Reaganesque]

Click here for awesome video!

[Reaganesque]

As far as I can tell, laser based missile defense systems have yet to miss. Israel and our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan need this like yesterday.

[demlosers]

THEL has been replaced by Skyguard because THEL was thought of as too bulky to deploy. So here's a laser system that has 4 times less bulk:

"Skyguard is derived from the successful Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) test bed and its predecessors developed by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Army and the Israel Ministry of Defence. Benefiting from significant technological advancements, Skyguard has higher power than heritage systems and a larger beam, making it a much more capable system, the company said."....

Skyguard - the high-power laser
system which will defend against
air-based threats such as
short-range ballistic missiles and
rockets, artillery and mortars.
Photo credit: Northrop Grumman Artwork.

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Northrop_Grumman_Develops_Skyguard_Laser_Defense_System_For_Local_Defense_999.html

[Echo Talon]

If Israel has this I wonder why they are using our Patriot3..

[Jet Jaguar]

Cool video.

Hey Kimmie you should see this!

[Reaganesque]

The video refers to the system as MTHEL, which is what Skyguard is. I noted that they emphasized that Skyguard is upgradeable, meaning that when weapons grade solid state lasers become available, they can simply replace the old chemical laser. Pretty cool stuff.

[AlextheWise1]

they need a couple dozen of these in Israel right now....

I worry about salvo speed though... how long it takes, may take a couple sceonds per target so no effective in mass attacks

[infidel29]

marking for posterity

[Boundless]

How about a link to a downloadable,
for those of us who can't stream?

[LS]

You are right. I can't remember a single experiment of the airborne laser lab or any other laser weapons test missing.

[Reaganesque]

Salvo speed seemed pretty good against those three mortar rounds. Even if it isn't terribly fast, having more than one Skyguard on hand would certainly solve that problem. And when Skyguard switches to a solid state laser, the system's magazine would be virtually limitless.

[Alexander Rubin]

Because it wouldn't be too hard to armour shells against this kind of laser. And it's probably hard and expensive to make. I'm surprised we aren't seeing at least a few, though.

[Reaganesque]

I can't seem to find a downloadable file for you. You Tube downloaded the video from www.israeli-weapons.com. You could try there. Maybe I was looking in the wrong places. Sorry.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Incredible work and no doubt a lot of promise. Conspicuously absent are information on range, rate of fire and how long the consumables last.

Of course, there's no mention of all the wildlife and raptors that could be blinded or killed by such a weapon. ;>)

[lafroste]

I worry about salvo speed though... how long it takes, may take a couple sceonds per target so no effective in mass attacks

Not if you have a couple of dozen of these things all coordinated by a central command. That would be a pretty effective shield I would think.

[noname07718]

Cloudy days.

[Chicos_Bail_Bonds]

Why do the publish the capabilities of these weapons? Sure would make it easier for the enemy to build countermeasures I would think.

[Ole Okie]

Of course, there's no mention of all the wildlife and raptors that could be blinded or killed by such a weapon. ;>)

Ooh, ooh, ooh! Out, damned spot!

Envirowackos will immediately ban mobile lasers!

[TYVets]

ping

[IronJack]

Made a little bit of video go a long way, and some of this editing is a little suspicious. But I imagine all these claims are verifiable, and this is one hell of a weapons system.

Even more encouraging, what will the next generation look like? These are not weapons that can be cooked up by a bunch of robe-wearing sand dodgers over a camel-crap fire.