Raytheon Successfully Tests New Solid-State Laser Area Defense System

PRNewswire ^ | Jan. 9, 2007 | Raytheon Company

[holymoly]

The LADS demonstration used a proven, existing, off-the-shelf solid-state laser, coupled with commercially available optics technology.

No, this does not mean you can cannibalize the lasers from CD-ROM drives, get a telescope, and build your own. ;o)

[theDentist]

What happens if you aim one at a DUmmie Server?

[bamahead]

IATZ?

:)

[Bosco]

If this could be used on IEDs it would be a Godsend for our troops in Iraq.

[GAB-1955]

Congrats to Raytheon. Northrop Grumman already has its laser defense system built. 2007 will be the make-or-break year for the terrorist states; Hezbollah and Hamas will find their toys broken next year.

[ozaukeemom]

ping

[MeanWestTexan]

But it does mean that Israel will shortly have a defense against nuisance attacks from the savages on the other side of the wall.

[puppypusher]

If this system can be implemented on our Destroyers and Guided Missile Cruisers the threat of anti-ship missiles will be significantly reduced.

[TChris]

Very cool technology! As China begins to enter the realm of American technology of the 1970's, it's comforting to know we're still ahead.

[MeanWestTexan]

Not really, unless the IEDs were airborne.

This is radar-dependant.

[ElkGroveDan]

Raytheon Successfully Tests New Solid-State Laser Area Defense System

Solid-state? Does this mean it has no vacuum tubes? Congratulations Raytheon on this incredible technological leap forward!

[Red6]

They are already looking for IED's with aircraft. Once found, why not vaporize or disable them from an airborne platform?

Actually this does sound reasonable.

[GAB-1955]

Using these on IEDs is the next thing on the list of the defense contractors. Personally, I want the death-ray from the War of the Worlds movie; can you imagine a Hezbollah rally ending in green scarfs, battle fatigues, and grey dust everywhere?

However, I don't think anyone is working on a Model I Tripod for the U.S. Army. Even if they did, they'd have to build a shorter, faster variant for the Marine Corps, and the Air Force would want a one too.

But wouldn't it be cool?

[doorgunner69]

What makes you think this has not been in the pipe for a long time now?

[newguy357]

The problem with IEDs is detection, not disposal.

[massgopguy]

This is typical of the success stories that Sen. Harkin does not want reported before they Senate debates the failure of SDI.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

No, this does not mean you can cannibalize the lasers from CD-ROM drives, get a telescope, and build your own. ;o)

ROFL!

[Robert A Cook PE]

Solid-state laser technology makes LADS safe to the environment, does away with the need for caustic chemicals and radically reduces the life-cycle cost.


Just for info: The previous large defense lasers made y Raytheon used H2O2 (and a few other nasty "wet" chemicals to chemically power the laser. The tanks (while they could be refilled) added a lot of problems trying to get the THEL (and other airborne laser installations) "mobile." To run the THEL for example, you really needed about 10 permently-mounted containers on concrete hard-mounts.

So the laser defense installation becomes an expensive fixed target itself.

I figure they used the tracking and control programs and hardware from the THEL for this smaller laser, with the mount from the Phalanx.

Good they can kill mortar rounds - probably artillery rounds too? - but that "small target" success indicates also that bigger missiles (which need to get hit further out and with more power) or gas/biological warheads (which need to get destroyed further away) are still too hard to kill.

[Robert A Cook PE]

See my explanation in nbr 18. previous high energy lasers were chemically powered.

[patton]

THEL has killed 155 rds in flight.