[jonrick46]

Watch the dynamics change once the Air-born Laser is deployed. The devices currently available are effective. However, let the Syria and Iran blow their cash showing the world what a nuisance they are. When it comes to Judgment Day, we will have all our pieces in place and they will have no idea how to neutralize their ability.

[Paul Ross]

Watch the dynamics change once the ABL is deployed. The devices currentlyavailable are effective.

Check out this follow-on news story:

Northrop Grumman Unveils Skyguard Laser Defense System
Defense Daily, July 25, 2006
By Ann Roosevelt

Northrop Grumman [NOC] this week unveiled Skyguard, the next generation laser-based air defense system that could provide speed-of-light defense for deployed forces, military installations, critical civilian airports, harbors, or industry.

Denied success on the ground, terrorists have taken to the air. Rockets and mortars rain down on U.S. troops and allies in Iraq. The threats are inexpensive, easily available, and even homemade versions have attacked civilian populations, for example, in Israel. Counter fire has often caused civilian casualties, which escalates conflict.

A single Skyguard system can generate a protective shield of about 10 kilometers in diameter, company officials said at a briefing at their Arlington, Va. offices on Wednesday. It can detect, track and destroy--at the speed of light--single or multiple threats from short-range ballistic missiles, short-and long-range rockets, artillery shells, mortars, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, anti-tank guided missiles and man-portable (MANPADs) threats.

"We believe it could be produced in about 18 months," Dan Wildt, director of business development for Directed Energy Systems at Northrop Grumman's Space Technology unit, said. The initial system would likely cost around $150 million to $200 million, while orders for multiple systems could drop the price to around $25 million per copy. It costs about $1,000 a shot, basically the recurring cost of the chemicals.

Northrop Grumman's laser expertise dates back to the 1960s. Skyguard is derived from the successful Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration test bed developed by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Army and the Israel Ministry of Defense in light of the Katyusha rocket threat to northern Israel.

"We never turned on the laser and failed to hit the target," Wildt said.

THEL claims 46 successful kills against single, multiple and surprise Katyusha rocket attacks, artillery projectiles, large caliber rockets and mortars.

Skyguard has next generation laser, power and computing capability in a platform that is a factor of four times smaller than THEL, which is based on 1980s technology, Wildt said.

"We never turned on the laser and failed to hit the target," Wildt said.