Battlefield Lasers Being Developed Will Protect Front-Line Troops

Fox News ^ | 12/05/2001

[clueless idiot]

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M.

[Ford Fairlane]

The reason the THEL cost so much per shot is that is has to use a chemical reaction to get the energy, because if a conventional power supply big enough to operate it was installed on the aircraft, it would be too heavy to get off the ground.

[fourdeuce82d]

The reason the THEL cost so much per shot is that is has to use a chemical reaction to get the energy, because if a conventional power supply big enough to operate it was installed on the aircraft, it would be too heavy to get off the ground.

Hunh? did we read the same article?

"Though originally meant to be set up on permanent sites in Israel, the laser is now to be mobile, thanks to changing political realities...So, THEL researchers will be working to put the equipment on a vehicle that resembles a tractor-trailer. "

Doesn't sound like they *ever* meant to mount it on an aircraft...Also, I don't think a laser is like a flashlight, i.e. ya crank some 'lectricity in one end, and get a beam out the other- i think the actual mixture of gases lases itself.

[Ford Fairlane]

The original concept was to mount the weapon in a 747. At least one, and possibly 3 were built. At one time the Israeli's had several open orders due to their dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of the Patriot system. For the laser to be effective against incoming ICBM's and smaller missles such as the SCUD, it has to be airborne in case there is cloud cover. The 747 cruises above the cloud layer & does its work from there.

Other mobile ground based platforms may use the same system, but fixed mounted weapons can be connected directly to the power grid (if it is big enough) and may fire by standard electrical means.

Most lasers fire by means of an electrical flash tube, the light from which is then focused using various means, including CO2 or Xenon gas, artificial ruby rods, etc and then focused thru lenses to emit out one end of the device.

[Travis McGee]

bttt

[NeonKnight]

bump

[Poohbah]

And it cooks MREs in .003465 seconds :o)

[harpseal]

A new technology that may well make it. The very first laser was developed at Bell Labs in the 1950's. It actually was an outgrowth of the MASER (Microwave Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation). Masers were used in radars and were discovered during the 1940's.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[Travis McGee]

Just don't look at the bright red light.

[MissAmericanPie]

Kool beans, I would love to see a demonstration of this technology. I wonder if the pulse weapon would disable it though.

[Joe Brower]

I've been closely watching the development and capabilies of more and more high-tech weaponry for a while now, particulary what's come out since 9-11. As advancements continue at a remarkable pace in sensing/imaging, realtime information on the battlefield, smart munitions, automated hunter/killer robots both winged and non, etc., I have to reflect seriously on a question I saw the other day on another FR thread:

"Against all the combat-oriented technology, what hope does a simple rifleman have in this day and age?"

[fourdeuce82d]

"The original concept was to mount the weapon in a 747. At least one, and possibly 3 were built."

I am almost positive you are confusing two seperate programs- The THEL, and the Airborne Laser (ABL) The ABL is still under development, completely seperately from the THEL.

"Most lasers fire by means of an electrical flash tube, the light from which is then focused using various means, including CO2 or Xenon gas, artificial ruby rods, etc and then focused thru lenses to emit out one end of the device."

I think these lasers work on a completely different principle: here's a quote from an Air Force laser program:

An excited state of molecular oxygen, O2(1D ), is generated by the chemical reaction between chlorine gas and an aqueous mixture of hydrogen peroxide and potassium hydroxide (basic hydrogen peroxide). The byproducts of this reaction include salt (potassium chloride) and heat. Water vapor in the gas flow is removed because it interferes with the laser gas kinetics. Molecular iodine is then injected and mixed with the gas flow, and some of the energy in the oxygen is used to dissociate the iodine. Resonant energy transfer from the excited oxygen to the atomic iodine excites the iodine, and the gas flow is accelerated to a supersonic velocity in an expansion nozzle to create the laser gain region. Light is extracted with a laser cavity positioned transverse to the gas flow, and the exhaust gases are scrubbed to remove the residual chlorine and iodine.

Anyway, they will all help us be a "bright and shining light" to our foes *grin*

[SSN558]

"Nor battlefield or man-made smoke, presumably. There may be ways around this."

Don't forget tinfoil, the VRWC secret weapon. For best results wear on the shiny side out.

[harpseal]

Against all the high tech weaponry a single riflean dedcated to his ownliberty will still be a potent force. As weapons improve tactics will improve and counter measures will develop.

Stay well- Stay safe - stay armed - Yorktown

[Ford Fairlane]

It's possible I'm confusing the 2 programs. I thought they used the same system but I could be wrong. I'm not that familiar with the Air Force programs, other than some general memos I have seen.

I think I will have to talk to some Physicists I know for a full explanation of how this thing works. I'm just a lowly mechanical engineer - some of this stuff is beyond me. I just give them the power they need to do the job & help point the weapon in the right direction.

And in the case of the railgun, I get to try to figure out how to keep the gun from ripping out of the mount or rolling the ship it is in. That happens when you have a 10 lb projectile exiting the weapon at 30-50,000 fps - equal & opposite reaction in the opposite direction = a LOT of force. (enough to roll a M60 tank with a turret shot at 2 miles)

[fourdeuce82d]

And in the case of the railgun, I get to try to figure out how to keep the gun from ripping out of the mount or rolling the ship it is in.

are you working on that? I went and interviewed the director of the electromechanical something something facility at balcones heights, a UT Austin facility, when I was an undergrad.

Saw the "homopolar" generator and the block of aluminium with a fist sized cavity blown in it from a 1 gram plastic projectile. Way cool.

[Travis McGee]

As you know, I have often discussed this subject, and deride those who prepare for a "Robin Hood" resistance movement hiding out in the woods. Those days are long gone.

Armed resistance today means that camouflage must be the 3 piece suit or a repairman's uniform, the weapon must fit in a briefcase or toolbox, and the single shot rifle may be more useful in most cases than the tricked out high cap sport utility rifle.

[Ford Fairlane]

I'm not working on it anymore (unless you count work I'm doing in the barn just messing around on my own).

I used to work for several contract engineering companies in the midwest until I got tired of moving all the time & getting screwed over because I don't work as cheap as the imported labor pool. I got my PE and am currently trying not to starve running my own consulting business (and farming).

[Skynet]

Ah, I see my glorious plan for world domination and the extermination of all mankind is coming to glorious fruition.

First the "laser", next, my indestructible killing machines, shaped like a famous actor from Austria!

[subterfuge]

Certain wavelengths will penetrate smoke and fog. Aside from that I am skeptical this will be in use anytime in the next 10 years.