Laser Avenger
THEL Skyguard air defense laser
THEL concept of operations (CONOPS)
Posted on 04/11/2010 1:24:18 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Israel plans to replace kinetic air defense systems with laser interceptors. The Israel Air Force has been drafting a program that would introduce laser interceptors for air and missile defense. Officials said lasers would eventually replace all surface-to-air missiles and other kinetic interceptors over the next decade.
"In the future, laser systems will be operational, replacing existing systems used by the air defense system," Col. Zvi Haimovitz, commander of the Air Force's anti-aircraft unit in the north, said.
Israel has tested in the U.S. the Tactical High Energy Laser system against artillery, mortar and Katyusha rockets.
The military's plans for lasers were discussed at an Air Force conference in late March 2010. Officials said the military was quietly developing lasers and concepts in cooperation with the Defense Ministry.
"It is just a matter of time before the technology becomes operational," Haimovitz said. "It is too bad that laser systems are not advancing at the same rate as standard systems, but their price certainly plays a significant role in the delayed process."
Officials did not provide any timetables for the development of laser weapons systems. But a senior official and reserve major general said Israel had the capabilities to develop laser weapons within five years.
"A laser weapon can shoot down anything that is in the air including aircraft," Israel Space Agency chairman Yitzhak Ben-Yisrael said. "The Israel Defense Forces knows the technology for intercepting short range rockets very well, and now laser technology and electromagnetic weapons can be used to intercept short range missiles."
Officials said lasers would represent a more flexible solution than kinetic interceptors. They said lasers could counter a salvo of short-range missiles and rockets.
(Excerpt) Read more at geostrategy-direct.com ...
Laser Avenger
THEL Skyguard air defense laser
THEL concept of operations (CONOPS)
Very cool machines.
And we have shut down our airborne laser development. The Kenyan had better not alienate Israel too much. We will soon be relying on Israel for weapons R&D- if they will share it with us.
Mind you, I’d love to see this work.
Stick a fishing pole in a clear pond. Does it “bend”? Will a laser kill system work on cloudy days, through shimmering heat, high humidity? How much “high energy” will an effective kill beam require?
I’m all for hopeful development work. God knows, unlike its adversaries, Israel does not have the area to soak up offensive hits. I would be slow to bet the ranch on a totally effective kill of incoming WMDs.
Strategically, how can Israel NOT opt for pre-emptive strike against a theater nuclear power?
No kidding. It’s already happening.
THIS is Missile Command.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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Perhaps much of these system are built in the US by Lockheed and others?
But when President Reagan suggested this
he was called insane
by the Demon Rats
Cool -— Raytheon.
Next step multipule simutaneous targets from different systems from different directions/angles?
US soldiers in the vid seem to be the ones conducting the tests - not Israelis. But has Hussein canceled the US portion, like I’ve heard he has with the Airborn Laser?
Boeing has been working on lasers for quite a while(ABL)
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