http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2407807.stm

The US army has, for the first time, shot down an artillery shell in flight using a high-powered laser weapon.


Tactical high energy lasers have the capacity to change the face of the battlefield

US Army Lt Gen Joseph Cosumano
The laser tracked and locked on to the shell, before firing a stream of concentrated light energy photons and destroying it.

The US Army's Space and Missile Defence Command said that "seconds later, at a point well short of its intended destination, the projectile was destroyed".

The Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser (MTHEL) is being developed by the TRW Corporation for use by the US military and the Israeli Defence Ministry.

Two years ago, it successfully shot down a Katyusha rocket, but in Monday's test it managed to destroy a shell moving at a higher speed.

The test took place at the White Sands missile range in New Mexico.

Potent weapon

A laser is an intense beam of light, carefully corralled so that the beam does not diverge and weaken. In the MTHEL, the energy is supplied by a controlled chemical reaction.


The laser gun uses radar to track targets


The laser is a potentially potent weapon as the beam travels literally at the speed of light and can cross great distances with minimal loss of intensity.

Such a beam could knock out targets at distances ranging from tens of kilometres to, in theory, thousands of kilometres.

"This shoot-down shifts the paradigm for defensive capabilities," Lieutenant General Joseph Cosumano, head of the missile defence command, told Reuters news agency.

"We have shown that even an artillery projectile hurtling through the air at supersonic speed is no match for a laser."

Israeli interest

The laser was built as a joint project between the US and Israel.

The Israeli Government is interested in the system because Katyusha rockets are used by militant Islamic groups in attacks on Israel.

The system stems in part from a commitment former US President Bill Clinton made in April 1996 to then Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres to aid Israel in developing a security system against rockets.

Lasers were behind the space-based missile defence shield idea, labelled "Star Wars", first suggested by US President Ronald Reagan in 1983.

The Pentagon has been working on a variety of other laser weapon technologies that could be used to shoot down ballistic missiles in flight, although deployment of such weapons is at least a decade away.

tell me thats not about the coolest thing you have heard in a while. maybe our boys won't have to worry about artillery in the near future?

Yeah, it's awsome. I read up on this about a year ago-Supposedly when it's full-fledged it will be able to shoot down some 60 missiles/planes [anything airborne] per second. In the Star Wars design it was space-based...it almost sounds like this was a ground prototype?

It can shoot down a katyusha...whoop de doo...

Katyushas are really old and are usually fired in salvos of 6

quote:

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Originally posted by Cobranaut:
Israeli interest

The laser was built as a joint project between the US and Israel.

The Israeli Government is interested in the system because Katyusha rockets are used by militant Islamic groups in attacks on Israel.

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Indeed. I'll wager the Isralies are just itching to get their hands on a weapon that can vape Palestinian settlements from tens of kilometers away with no fuss.

~Zero

yeah it's ground based. and it shot down a artillery shell not just those old crappy rockets. i just thought it was cool cause maybe one day going to war will be like Q-zar....what am i talking about?

sure, its good...but it will never be effective.

If one can take one Artillery shell out, but only one at a time, then if something was bombarded, you will need MANY, and Im sure those things cost an ass load

I agree that the technology is in its infancy, but i do not share ComradeAsh's sceptical sentiments that it will never be effective.

anything that can shoot down a supersonic artillery shell is impressive, its only a matter of time when they improve it to track multiple targets.

sure it may never be 100% effective...but its better than stupid patriot missiles.

it is in our nature to be sceptical about new technology...but history has shown sceptics are usually wrong.

croc

hmmm makes u wonder...

if it can shoot down a missile..and an artillery shell...

it may even put surface to Air Missiles out of commission if they turn it to shooting down aircraft. U cant use chaff or flares to deter a laser...and u cant swurve to evade something being fired at the speed of light.

only stealth technology will save your ass.

countries who dont have stealth technology or cant afford it..will be stuffed.

hey im probably rambling shit...but its interesting to think about.

war has always been dictated by technology eg castles stopped being stongholds when cannons could shoot through walls...swords gave way to guns...

croc

Most coutries can't match the US's military budget. in many years technology will probably mean more in battle than it does today.

If u set up a satelite up in space It may be used as a ground to ground weapon. but until then its perfect against anything that flyes.
lets see the bad part of this.
This lazer will always have to be charged. lets see how that will affect ur operationnal cost.
It puts you missle defence system out of order. ohh the money invested.... ohh
and immagine the friendly fire accidents.
ull shoot down one wrong plane and all te project will be forgotten.
have fun waisting ur Tax money