Lasers the least cost solution for missile defense?
Military lasers are the latest evolution in “not getting killed” technology. Defense and offense in war tend to be cyclical–for a while, weapons are very good getting through to their targets, but then someone invents better armor, which works until a new weapon is made. Since the advent of gunpowder, really, offensive weapons have outmatched defenses. It’s simply easier and cheaper to fire many relatively inexpensive explosives at a target than it is to fire pricey guided missiles to stop attacks in midair. Israel’s Iron Dome system, probably the best known missile-intercepting system right now, regularly fires $40,000 missiles to stop $1,000 rockets.
HEL-MD takes out mortars and UAVs with vehicle-mounted laser
High energy laser weapons are a hot area of research with companies including Lockheed Martin, Rheinmetall and Northrop Grumman all developing systems. Boeing is also in the mix with its High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator (HEL MD), which is being put through its paces by the US Army. Between November 18 and December 10, the HEL MD successfully took out mortar rounds and UAVs in flight, marking a first for the vehicle-mounted system.
The recent tests, which took place at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, followed on from low- and medium-power test demonstrations conducted in 2011. These latest tests were the first full demonstration of the HEL MD in a configuration that included the laser and beam director mounted in the vehicle. A surrogate radar, the Enhanced Multi Mode Radar, provided support by queuing the laser. (could this be TPQ-53 · Lockheed Martin)
The tests involved a 10-kW class laser, however, this will be replaced by a 50-kW laser in the future before that is in turn upgraded to a 100-kW class laser for subsequent demonstrations. Supporting thermal and power subsystems will also be upgraded to meet the needs of the increasingly powerful solid-state lasers, which officials say will increase the effective range of the laser and decrease the amount of time the laser will need to stay on target.
A candidate might be the GA-ASI 150kw HELLADS developed for DARPA.
Defense Update:US Army Tests High Power Laser Weapon - Defense Update:
It was the first time the Army has tested this vehicle-mounted high-energy laser in the open, employing the system’s high power laser source and beam director, both mounted on a truck. Beside the laser system, an unspecified ‘enhanced multimode radar‘ supported the engagement by queuing the laser. The demonstration and testing confirms the capability of a mobile solid-state laser weapon system to counter mortars, UAVs, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors mounted on the UAVs, officials said.
Israeli Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. will add an HEL component "Iron Beam" to Iron Dome
Israel's Rafael to unveil laser-based defense system - Diplomacy and Defense Israel News | Haaretz
A laser-based defense system against rockets, mortars and airborne attacks will be unveiled by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems next month, Globes newspaper reported on Sunday.
The high energy laser (HEL) system, called Iron Beam, will be unveiled at next month's Singapore Air Show.
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