[extropy-chat] LASER: DARPA's HELLADS small laser weapon makes headway

[J. Andrew Rogers]

On 9/1/05 7:28 PM, "Mike Lorrey" <mlorrey at yahoo.com> wrote:

> 
> 
> --- Dirk Bruere <dirk.bruere at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> On 9/2/05, Mike Lorrey <mlorrey at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> --- Dirk Bruere <dirk.bruere at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> On 9/1/05, Mike Lorrey <mlorrey at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> 
>> 
> http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technovel_darpa_lasers_050830.html
>>>>> 
>>>>> The HELLADS is intended to be mountable on tactical aircraft, a
>>>> Hummer,
>>>>> or UCAVs and offer performance of 5 kg/kW weapon weight with
>> 150 kW
>>>>> beam energy. So it should come in at about 750 lbs in a design
>>>> useful
>>>>> on the battlefield
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Better hope the enemy doesn't catch on to wrapping their mortar
>>>> rounds etc in carbon fibre mat.
>>>> I've seen lasers with a higher power density than that stopped
>> dead
>>>> by it. Makes a pretty light, though, as it re-radiates.
>>> 
>>> I'm sure, though I'm not too sure that the mat doesn't abrade the
>> bore
>>> of the mortar. Even so, if it gives off that much heat, radiating
>> the
>>> laser energy, it should be easily targetable by a perimter defense
>>> phalanx gun with a FLIR seeker.
>>> 
>> 
>> Well, mortar rounds are already quite trackable by radar so using a
>> HEL to illuminate them seems a bit redundant.
> 
> Hardly. A radar itself can be homed in on with an anti-radiation
> missile or other weapon. A FLIR is passive, and thus a better sensor,
> just as passive sonar is more secure than active sonar.
> 
>> IIRC the US and Israel were talking of deploying a similar system to
>> hit katyusha rockets fired at settlements. haven't heard much since
>> about it though.
>> Problem is that hardening munitions against laser energy is
>> relatively easy.
>> Maybe all hamas/Hezbollah would have to do is either polish the
>> rockets or 
>> coat them in sawdust/glue. There is not an infinitely long time
>> window in which to down these things.
>> 
>> I suspect that the reason it's being deployed on aircraft is to zap
>> MANPADS 
>> like Stinger that rely on delicate sensors so more low level flying
>> can be undertaken in places like Afghanistan.
> 
> Actually, the THEL has been tested against katyushas. And despite the
> claims of the disparagers, polishing or sawdust and glue doesn't do
> anything to protect against a high energy laser. Its all well and good
> to talk about it, but proving it is another thing.
> 
> Mike Lorrey
> Vice-Chair, 2nd District, Libertarian Party of NH
> Founder, Constitution Park Foundation:
> http://constitutionpark.blogspot.com
> Personal/political blog: http://intlib.blogspot.com
> 
> 
> 
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