REDONDO BEACH, Calif. — A laser weapon from the Northrop Grumman Corp. Space Technology sector in Redondo Beach, Calif., showed its ability to destroy incoming mortar rounds, strongly suggesting that laser weapons could be applied on the battlefield to protect against mortars artillery shells, and other tactical weapons.
The Northrop Grumman Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) shot down several mortar rounds in a demonstration Aug. 24 at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., proving that laser weapons could be applied on the battlefield to protect against common threats. The THEL test bed destroyed single mortar rounds and mortar rounds fired in a salvo.
The Northrop Grumman Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) demonstrator, pictured above and in infrared-image inset, has shown it can shoot down tactical threats such as mortar and artillery rounds, as well as battlefield missiles. The THEL has been undergoing tests at the U.S. Army's White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
Officials of the U.S. Army, which is sponsoring the THEL program, conducted the test as part of the Mobile THEL (MTHEL) program to develop and test a mobile directed-energy weapon system capable of detecting, tracking, engaging, and defeating rockets, artillery, mortars, cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The U.S. Army is collaborating with the Israeli Ministry of Defense in the execution of the MTHEL program.
"For the first time, we have a way to protect our forces, and those of our allies, against almost daily mortar attacks," says Patrick Caruana, vice president of Space and Missile Defense for Northrop Grumman Space Technology. "Together with the U.S. Army, we have overcome the technical hurdles and we're ready to move laser weapons onto the battlefield."
"The MTHEL prototype, when developed, will put directed energy into the warfighters' hands as early as possible," says Joe Shwartz, MTHEL program manager for Northrop Grumman Space Technology.
A Northrop Grumman–led team of U.S. and Israeli contractors designed the THEL demonstrator for the U.S. Space & Missile Defense Command in Huntsville, Ala., and the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
U.S. companies involved in test-bed development are Ball Aerospace in Boulder, Colo., and Brashear LP in Pittsburgh.
