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Nautilus system shoots down Katyusha in joint Israeli-U.S. test
Haaretz Service ^ | 07/05/2004 | By Haaretz Service

Posted on 05/07/2004 3:45:18 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar

A long-range ground-to-ground rocket was successfully intercepted for the first time in an experiment carried out in the United States on the Nautilus anti-rocket system. The experiment was carried out Tuesday in New Mexico by the Israeli Defense Ministry and the U.S. Army.

Analysis of the initial test results shows that the system followed the rocket and destroyed it in mid-air using a laser ray.

The system has so far successfully destroyed 28 Katyusha rockets in mid-air, as well as five artillery mortars.

(Excerpt) Read more at haaretzdaily.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Israel
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1 posted on 05/07/2004 3:45:18 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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To: alaska-sgt
As long as it only does one set of 6-10 reps, to failure.

(weightlifting humor)

2 posted on 05/07/2004 3:49:25 AM PDT by Benrand
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To: alaska-sgt
Does anyone know the kill mechanism of this system?

Lasers are often used against electronics, especially guidance systems, causing advanced things like ICBMs and cruise missiles and even ATGMs to crash.

But Katyushas (That is the standard soviet 122mm rocket, often fired from the BM-21) and mortars are 'dumb' They just go where they were shot and go boom. My guess is that the kill mechanism is heating the rocket/mortar/shell until it detonates prematurely, but that is a DRAMATIC increase in energy necessary over any previous system.

Anyone know any more details?
3 posted on 05/07/2004 3:56:25 AM PDT by blanknoone (How many flips would a flip-flop flop if a flip-flop could flop flips?)
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To: alaska-sgt
The Katyusha is WWII technology when all is said and done. Its hardly that shattering a development.
4 posted on 05/07/2004 4:03:09 AM PDT by KingKangaroo (If only it was a choice between good and evil.)
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To: KingKangaroo
Major general (Res.) Shmuel Keren, Director of Development of Weapons Systems and Infrastructure at the Defense Ministry, said that the system is able to intercept a variety of aerial targets such as long-range rockets and cruise missiles, to which there is currently no solution.

Sounds to me like it can track any projectile as long as it's at least as large as a mortar round. Probably would make a good anti-aircraft system too.

5 posted on 05/07/2004 4:10:33 AM PDT by ovrtaxt (Forget ANWR -- Drill Israel!)
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To: KingKangaroo
"shattering indeed!" This system could knock airplanes out of the air... fighters and jetliners ect. In such a deadpan news release...we've just seen the end of conventional war-fare as we've known it. These katyushas are small...you don't think larger targets would be harder to hit? It's back to sticks and stones again boys and girls!
6 posted on 05/07/2004 4:18:57 AM PDT by mdmathis6 (The Democrats must be defeated in 2004)
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To: alaska-sgt
Named Nautilus, eh?
Should we expect some wacky Navy captain to steal this technology and mount it on a sub?
7 posted on 05/07/2004 4:20:59 AM PDT by Saturnalia (My name is Matt Foley and I live in a VAN down by the RIVER.)
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To: blanknoone
Tactical High Energy Laser Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrator

System Description: THEL/ACTD is a ground-based, short-range air defense system that’s being developed by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Army and the Israel Ministry of Defence (IMoD).

THEL/ACTD will use a high-energy chemical laser to protect civilians, friendly forces and military assets against rocket attacks. It will be used to demonstrate the effectiveness of using high-energy lasers to intercept and defeat short-range terrorist threats such as Katyusha rockets.

Requirements for the THEL/ACTD have been driven largely by the State of Israel, which has an urgent need to protect civilians living along its northern borders against terrorist rocket attacks.

The THEL/ACTD program stems, in part, from a commitment made in April 1996 by President Bill Clinton and then Secretary of Defense William Perry to then Prime Minister of Israel Shimon Peres to assist Israel in developing a defensive capability against these rocket attacks.

The THEL ACTD is a “transportable” system contained in several semi-trailer sized containers. It consists of three major subsystems: command, control, communications & intelligence subsystem, which includes a fire control radar provided by Israel; a pointer-tracker subsystem, which tracks the target and steers the laser to the target; and a laser subsystem, which uses a deuterium fluoride laser.
8 posted on 05/07/2004 4:22:43 AM PDT by snopercod (I used to be disgusted. Then I became amused. Now I'm disgusted again.)
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To: Benrand
"As long as it only does one set of 6-10 reps, to failure."

2-3 sets, 4-6 reps / set to failure m'self :) (MaxOT workout; www.ast-ss.com.........brutal, but VERY effective)

9 posted on 05/07/2004 4:25:41 AM PDT by RightOnline
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To: snopercod
That is fairly predictable. The soviets had a similar setup 15 years ago (except it was for targetting planes). Still nothing on the kill mechanism though.

Any idea of effective range? I know the effective range of our artillery radar but it is still technically classified. I really doubt the laser can reach as far as the radar.
10 posted on 05/07/2004 4:40:13 AM PDT by blanknoone (How many flips would a flip-flop flop if a flip-flop could flop flips?)
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To: mdmathis6
Presumably the concentration of the beam diverges as the square of the distance - and possibly the accuracy of the aiming during the pulse, which could also degrade at least linearly with range.

It is impressive to be able to react to something as brief as the flight of a mortar round; we have been playing cat-and-mouse with some mortar crews in Iraq lately. Certainly would be a warm-fuzzy feeling to have this unit next door to your barracks!


11 posted on 05/07/2004 5:02:59 AM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (Home(page) is where the (political) heart is.)
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To: snopercod
THEL ACTD is a “transportable” system contained in several semi-trailer sized containers...a deuterium fluoride laser.

...heating up the casing...the amount of energy required. multiple shots?.."refresh" time?...is it rugged?..all need to be considered...an early “transportable” phaser system...and its' better than buildings.

12 posted on 05/07/2004 5:04:14 AM PDT by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :)
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To: RightOnline
The only effective workouts are quick, intense, brutal workouts.

I've been following some of Mike Mentzer's workouts and have seen really good results. I also like that I don't have to become a gym rat. :o)

13 posted on 05/07/2004 5:41:18 AM PDT by Benrand
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion
I bet the system used adaptive optics to avoid beam distortions induced by atmospheric differences. That would give it a pretty good range.
14 posted on 05/07/2004 6:08:24 AM PDT by doc30
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To: Benrand
Agreed. I'm in and out in under an hour......five days a week, one or two muscle groups per day. It's one of the things I like about this workout, even if it's a b**ch to do due to the heavier weights. Toss in whey protein shakes, creatine, and glutamine before and after each workout....plus Dymetadrine X (now banned; ephedra, etc.)......and recently, T-Bomb II; great way to go. :)
15 posted on 05/07/2004 11:22:05 AM PDT by RightOnline
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To: RightOnline
I'm not into supplements, just more beef and chicken and egg whites. I was thinking of a protein supplement.

I do supersets with pre-exhaust two days a week, chest back on one and bi's tri's on the other, with abs on both and some treadmill.

My strength is gaining so much more rpaidly than when I would bomb myself, Arnold-style. I basically had to rebuild my strength level after I had a bad break of my elbow.

Nautlius and Mentzer recommend more recuperation than I would have expected, but I have to say it works.

I don't know if you do any pre-exhaust sets like pec deck into bench, but that is PURE PAIN, let me tell ya. :o) My favorite is cheater curls or preachers or hammers right into underhand pulldowns. My arms BURN after that...

16 posted on 05/07/2004 11:32:27 AM PDT by Benrand
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To: Saturnalia
Should we expect some wacky Navy captain to steal this technology and mount it on a sub?

I just want some frickin' sharks with some frickin' lasers on their heads.

17 posted on 05/07/2004 11:36:55 AM PDT by tortoise (All these moments lost in time, like tears in the rain.)
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To: Benrand
Just got back from bis and abs day.........hurtin' like hell.........so I can relate. :) Straight bar curls (2 sets; just at 125 for those), hammer curls (2 sets @ 55 per hand, but gotta go up next week), curl-bar curls (1 set), weighted crunches (did 17 reps cradling 100# dumbbell at upper chest, near-shoulder height, bench at highest angle........ouch), Roman chair w/40# dumbbell between the feet (1 set), then obliques (machine; 1 left, 1 right, whatever the hell the max on that machine is.....205 or some such; not much). Goes fast, this one, but dang...........
18 posted on 05/07/2004 1:03:20 PM PDT by RightOnline
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To: RightOnline
I did bis/tris this am at 6. 80/110 cheaters (cheating as little as possible) into 130/150 pulldowns supersetted with tri pushdowns ending with the stack, 130/150.

I usually do one or two sets of machine negatives for bis/tris, but I just wanted to get done this am, so I did a set of concentration curls and french presses.

As Arnold would say..."what a pump. I imagined my biceps as mountains."

I have a plate in my arm, so bench is max around 225. It hurts...REAL pain...it's gotten better. Everything else is ok, bench hurts like mad.

19 posted on 05/07/2004 1:19:52 PM PDT by Benrand
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To: Benrand
Yeah, bench kicks my butt too. On decline bench, I'm up to 245 (but then again, I'm 48 years old and only 5' 8", running about 190 now, so.:) lol ). Flat....work out with abou 23--235. NO idea what my max is; never really cared. I go for the highest workout weight that I can to get 4-6 reps. Sounds like you're of the same mind. Guys who come into the weight room and grunt and groan to squeak out one rep to prove something to themselves........just always seemed silly to me. Damned if I didn't hurt my right elbow yesterday, and I do NOT get hurt in the gym EVER. Feel like an idiot. Think it was during curl-bar curls. Hurts right now to turn the ignition key to start my car, fercryinoutloud.
20 posted on 05/08/2004 1:46:28 PM PDT by RightOnline
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