Posted on 07/20/2010 1:01:43 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Raytheon and a U.S. Navy team used a combined-beam fiber laser to shoot down four unmanned aerial vehicles in flight during an over-the-water engagement.
The UAV targets were engaged and destroyed using the Navy's Laser Weapon System guided by Raytheon's Phalanx Close-in Weapon System sensor suite. LaWS is made up of six industrial-use lasers that simultaneously focus on the target.
"These engagements validate the operational viability of the Phalanx-LaWS combination at sea," said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, president of Raytheon Missile Systems. "The Raytheon- Navy team demonstrated the systems' capability to detect, track, engage and defeat dynamic targets at tactically significant ranges in a maritime environment."
For the test, the LaWS was mounted on a stable platform close to the Phalanx Block 1B mount. The Phalanx operator used the Block 1B's surface mode to perform electro-optical tracking and the system's radio frequency sensors to provide range data to the LaWS. When the Phalanx acquired the UAV, the LaWS destroyed the target.
"The Raytheon-Navy team is moving directed energy solutions toward utility in the battlespace to provide warfighters with speed-of-light protection," said Lawrence. "This shoot down leverages the significant investment the Navy has made in the Phalanx Close-in Weapon System and extends its combat-proven leadership in close-in defense systems."
Good, now rip out all those stupid RAM missile launchers that replaced the CIWS and install these.
Ping
I will hear these words in my sleep for the rest of my life. :)
Phalanx, RAM’s and now these. Those are going to be some crowded stations.
I think we got as far as proof of principle. We are a long way from an operational system.
Agreed, but going from the very versatile CIWS to the RAM system was a huge mistake for the Navy. This would seem to be a good way to get rid of some of the “twenty-one-and-done” launchers.
The Navy’s been dumping CIWS for RAM launchers of late.
“radio frequency sensors to provide range data”
What happens when the enemy applies stealth technology to missiles or unmanned drones?
What happens when the enemy applies stealth technology to missiles or unmanned drones?“radio frequency sensors to provide range data”
That's the battle space you are fighting in . . .
Cool!
But — I thought that a missile defense shield was impossible? Remember. The Dems said that it is like a bullet shooting a bullet. Its a pipe dream. Star Wars like fiction it is.
Yeah, right.
Listen to Democrats and our security is toast.
Seems to work just fine (after years of Democrat delays).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTpP412fM8U&feature=player_embedded
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