On 2008-08-21, Larry Jaques novalidaddress@di wrote:
On Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:05:49 -0500, with neither quill nor qualm,
Ignoramus15257 quickly quoth:
Picture is here
http://lenta.ru/news/2008/08/20/heltd/
Story is here
http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/...80819a_nr.html
If it could quickly shoot down fast moving things such as artillery
shells, I think that it will be very revolutionary.
I want to know how many _satellite_ kills will happen as a result of
testing the lasers. Um, OOPS!
The idea sounds like fun, but do not forget that energy per square
inch is the inverse of the square of distance. Ie, if the gun can
develop so much power at the distance of 1/2 mile, it can only develop
1/160,000 that power, per square inch, at the distance of 200
miles. And that does not even cound scattering of light and
absorption by atmosphere.
Now, damaging planes, that's a lot more realistic.
I also wonder if the gun would work as well if the projectiles had
mirror finish.
Personally I think that it is a great technology.
On another note, I recall other research in the field of some sort of
psychotropic weapons, that could make enemy soldiers **** their pants
and flee the battlefield just due to those psychotropic effect. That's
a very humane way of winning wars, if it works out.
Maybe the Russians used something along these lines, against the
Georgians.
i
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Boeing Awarded Contract to Continue Developing Mobile Laser Weapon
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 19, 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has been
awarded a U.S. Army contract valued at approximately $36 million to
continue developing a truck-mounted, high-energy laser weapon system
that will destroy rockets, artillery shells and mortar rounds.
Under the High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator (HEL TD) Phase II
contract, awarded Aug. 15, Boeing will complete the design of, then
build, test and evaluate, a rugged beam control system on a Heavy
Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck. Boeing also will develop the
system-engineering requirements for the entire HEL TD laser weapon
system. Boeing successfully completed the preliminary design of the
beam control system earlier this summer.
"This contract award is an important win for Boeing because it
supports a cornerstone of the Army's high-energy laser program," said
Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile
Defense Systems. "HEL TD will give warfighters a transformational
capability to counter the difficult threats posed by rockets,
artillery shells and mortar projectiles."
"Boeing spent the past year developing the preliminary design of the
HEL TD beam control system, and we appreciate the confidence the Army
has shown in our efforts by awarding us these contract options to
continue working on the program," said Gary Fitzmire, vice president
and program director of Boeing Directed Energy Systems.
The objective of the HEL TD program is to demonstrate that a mobile,
solid-state laser weapon system can effectively counter rocket,
artillery and mortar projectiles. The program will support the
transition to a full-fledged Army acquisition program.
Boeing leads the way in developing high-energy laser systems for a
variety of warfighter applications. These systems include the Airborne
Laser, the Advanced Tactical Laser, the Tactical Relay Mirror System
and Laser Avenger.
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