Sieff on Israel's New Dilemma
December 10, 2006 :: UPI :: Analysis
Israel desperately needs a short-range anti-rocket defense system, as demonstrated by Hezbollah's bombardment of northern Israel in July-August 2006, writes Martin Sieff in the UPI. Yet Israel has recognized significant development problems with its two possible solutions: Northrop Grumman's Skyguard, a high-energy chemical laser system; and Lockheed Martin's Sky Shield, a conventional rapid-fire cannon. Skyguard, developed in conjunction with the U.S. Army and the Israeli Defense Forces, was expected to be the IDF's first choice. The system is based on technology developed for the highly successful Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL). Yet according to All Headline News, Israel has suspended its participation in the project. "The point of contention appears to an inability to increased Skyguard's range to 6 miles [9.6 km]," AHN reported. "With its current range of only 1.8 miles [2.9 km], deploying Skyguard along Israel's entire northern border would be prohibitively expensive." The second option, Sky Shield, successfully destroyed a replica of Palestinian-made Qassam rocket in a recent lab test, according to the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz. But since the rocket was not in flight, the system has not yet proven itself capable of intercepting incoming Qassams. Much more development may be needed. "It is far too early to write off either system, especially given the relatively meager resources that have so far been allocated to developing either of them," Sieff notes. "But time is not on the Israelis' side, and they may have to choose fast." (Article, Link)
» More stories on: High Energy Defenses, Israel, Analysis
Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Strategic Illuminator Laser
October 16, 2006 :: Spacewar.com :: News
Northrop Grumman reports that it has recently demonstrated a next-generation, solid-state laser known as the Strategic Illuminator Laser (SILL), now considered the most powerful continuously pulsed laser ever built. The SILL program, funded by the Missile Defense Agency since 2004, successfully demonstrated multi-kilowatt-class average output power, operating at 5 kHz, with sufficient beam quality for a run time of five minutes.
Illuminator lasers would be critical components of any high energy weapon system. They would be used in conjunction with tracking sensors to help point the laser weapon at the target, and also in conjunction with wavefront sensors to help clean up distortion in the laser beam caused by the atmosphere and other parts of the weapon’s optical system so that the beam can be focused to a smaller spot at the target. The SILL program is developing a laser that will be significantly smaller and lighter compared with current high-power illuminator systems. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Technology, High Energy Defenses
Israel Prioritizes Anti-Katyusha Defense Efforts
September 27, 2006 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
Israel has made anti-Katyusha missile defense a top priority following Hezbollah’s rocket blitz on the country’s northern cities in recent months, reports the November issue of Jane’s Missiles and Rockets. On August 19, Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz ordered the defense establishment to begin developing an anti-missile system. With Iran and Syria replenishing Hezbollah’s rocket arsenal, Israeli requires a system that can be deployed quickly and presumably with U.S. funding. Peretz has appointed a panel to determine within several months the feasibility of a new laser system known as Skyguard, developed by Northrop Grumman since 2004; as well as other potential systems such as a land-based version of Raytheon’s Phalanx rapid-fire gun system, which would lock onto incoming rockets or mortar rounds and engage them with 20 mm cannon fire.
Jane’s reports, however, that Israel is at odds with the U.S. Army, which has paid the lion’s share of the costs for developing laser-based defense systems over the last decade. In early 2004, the Army shelved a project known as the Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser (MTHEL), developed jointly with Israel, because it was too cumbersome and costly and suffered from technical problems. In addition, the U.S. Army has shown little interest in the Skyguard systems, as it prefers a fully mobile system that can stand up to the rigors of combat in the field. The U.S. is also focusing on solid-state high-energy systems, which run on electrical power rather than the chemicals required for MTHEL variants. Yet working prototypes for such systems are not expected to be ready for another four to five years, a timeframe that does not meet Israel’s requirements. (Link)
» More stories on: Allies, High Energy Defenses, Israel, Terrorism
Carafano: U.S. Should Help Israel Deploy Directed-Energy Defenses
September 23, 2006 :: The Heritage Foundation :: Analysis
The U.S. should help Israel deploy anti-rocket defense using available, proven, directed-energy technologies in less than two years, argues James Jay Carafano of the Heritage Foundation. He notes that the two nations have already jointly developed a short-range laser system, the Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser (MTHEL), but chose not to deploy it. Instead, the Pentagon decided to invest its resources in more advanced directed-energy research that would lead to more mobile systems that could be quickly shifted around the battlefield. Yet prototypes for these new systems will not be available until at least 2013, during which Hezbollah could rearm and instigate another war a half-dozen times. “Congress has an opportunity to jump-start the process by including the necessary funding in the annual defense appropriations bill, but so far, it has let the opportunity pass,” writes Carafano. “The Pentagon doesn’t want the proven directed-energy defenses—an attitude that clearly proves the old adage that the perfect is the enemy of the good. Waiting for futuristic technology won’t help deter war in the Middle East, but deploying a directed-energy defense now will take the threat of rocket wars off the table.” In addition to defending all of Israel’s borders, these systems could be used by the U.S. to defend against short-range missile attacks on commercial aircraft or protect critical infrastructure like nuclear power plants. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Analysis, High Energy Defenses, Israel, Terrorism
» Missile system details for: Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL)
China Fired High-Powered Lasers at U.S. Satellites
September 22, 2006 :: Defense News :: News
Defense News reports that China has fired high-powered, ground-based lasers at U.S. reconnaissance satellites in an attempt to blind the spacecraft and keep them from taking pictures of Chinese territory. The article quotes Pentagon officials who refused to state how many times the lasers have been tested against U.S. satellites, but confirmed that several firings have taken place over the past few years. According to one source, China has the ability to “blind” satellites passing over its territory but not “disable” them, given the massive amount of energy required to shoot a laser through the dense lower atmosphere and reach a fast-moving satellite. In any event, China’s burgeoning anti-satellite capabilities underscore the severe vulnerabilities of U.S. reconnaissance satellites, and indeed the entire U.S. space network. “The Chinese are very strategically minded and are extremely active in this arena,” said one senior former Pentagon official. “They really believe all the stuff written in the 1980s about the high frontier and are looking at symmetrical and asymmetrical means to offset American dominance in space.” The Pentagon, however, has kept largely quiet regarding China’s anti-satellite efforts, in line with the Bush administration’s policy of maintaining cordial relations with Beijing, which is a leading trade partner and seen as key to dealing with rogue threats such as North Korea and Iran. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China, High Energy Defenses, Space-Based Systems
Israel Decides on Three-Tier Missile Defense
September 7, 2006 :: News
Israel has decided on a three-tier defense against ballistic missiles and rockets, reports Globes Online. The outer tier will destroy incoming ballistic missiles launched from Iran and other countries with Arrow anti-missile interceptors, which Israel has already deployed. The middle tier will intercept missiles launched from Syria and Lebanon. This tier has not been developed yet, but Israel believes that it will be able to develop such a program within five years at a cost of $500 million. The inner tier will intercept short-range Katyushas fired by Hezbullah and Kassams fired by Hamas. Three alternatives have been proposed for the inner tier: the Skyguard laser system developed by Northrop Grumman; an air-to-air missile developed by Rafael; and artillery with a range of up to 10 kilometers. Globes Online reports that Israel has asked Northrop Grumman to provide an assessment of Skyguard’s operational capabilities, effectiveness, development, and deployment costs. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: High Energy Defenses, Israel
Israel Examines Skyguard to Counter Hezbollah Rockets
August 15, 2006 :: Reuters :: News
Israel’s defense ministry recently asked the Pentagon for information about Skyguard, a next-generation chemical laser system for intercepting short-range Katyusha and Kassam rockets, reports Reuters. Skyguard is being developed by Northrop Grumman, and is based on the Tactical High Energy Laser, a joint project between the U.S. and Israel in the 1990s that had subsequently been canceled. Israel is reportedly interested in obtaining an export license for Skyguard, which would allow it to deploy the high-energy system to defend strategic sites in northern Israel against Hezbollah’s continuous barrage of short-range rockets. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: High Energy Defenses, Israel, Terrorism
» Missile system details for: Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL)
Northrop Grumman Develops Skyguard, Builds Upon THEL
July 12, 2006 :: Northrop Grumman :: News
Northrop Grumman has developed a new high-powered laser system known as Skyguard, said to be capable of defending against short-range ballistic missile, cruise missiles, short- and long-range rockets, artillery shells, mortars, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The new system is based on technology developed for the highly successful Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL). The recently unveiled program would appear to be a purely American rebirth of the THEL program, cooperation on which between Israel and the United States has undergone some difficulties.
In past years, THEL has successfully destroyed long- and short-range rockets, mortars, and artillery projectiles. According to a Northrop Grumman press release, Skyguard features greater power and a larger beam, which allows it to generate a protective shield of approximately 10 km in diameter. The system is designed to defend deployed forces, large military installations, civilian populations, or industrial areas. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: High Energy Defenses
» Missile system details for: Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL)
Stephens on Laser Technologies for the Air Force
June 2, 2006 :: News
New laser technologies are being contemplated by the U.S. Air Force, writes Hampton Stephens in Air Force Magazine. These weapons would be able to instantly reach targets 30 to 40 km away, compared to missiles that would take more than 30 seconds to reach targets at the same distance. They would be much more accurate than even the most precise laser guided bombs, as a laser’s circular error probable—the radius of a circle within which 50 percent of all of the target shots would fall—is less than three centimeters. In addition, lasers are not explosive and would allow for more precise targeting. Stephens notes that the Air Force recently completed a directed energy master plan that examines how lasers and other directed energy technologies could be integrated into its existing platforms. Among the possibilities are F-35 Joint Strike Fighters capable of carrying 100-kilowatt solid-state lasers; laser-equipped AC-130 gunships outfitted with tactical lasers for use against ground targets; and relay mirrors mounted on airships or other near-space platforms that would extend the ranges of laser beams, preserve laser beam quality, and allow laser-equipped aircraft to stand off farther from potential targets. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: High Energy Defenses
Kochems and Gudgel on Directed Energy Technologies
April 29, 2006 :: The Heritage Foundation :: Analysis
Directed-energy weapons (DEWs) are a reality and may appear on the battlefield within the next decade, writes Alane Kochems, a policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation, and Andrew Gudgel, a former Army Warrant Officer. In a recent article, Kochems and Gudgel describe these new weapons systems, capable of attacking pinpoint targets with either continuous light beams or short, intense pulses. The main advantage of DEWs is their instantaneous target acquisition, allowing them to destroy high-velocity threats such as missiles and artillery shells in mid-flight. In addition, controllers can vary energy strength, allowing for non-lethal uses. The U.S. currently has two directed-energy missile defense systems under development: the Tactical High-Energy Laser, designed to shoot down short-range rockets, artillery, and mortar shells; and the Airborne Laser, which uses a megawatt chemical laser mounted on a modified Boeing 747 to shoot down theater-range ballistic missiles. Kochems and Gudgel describe other projects such as high-power microwave weapons that produce short bursts of high-frequency radio energy, and pulsed power devices that create intense, ultra-short bursts of electrical energy. The authors note that future research will seek to increase the power and decrease the size of DEW systems, allowing them to be vehicle-mounted, and eventually man-portable. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: High Energy Defenses
 |
| Total Records: 23 |
[1]
2
3
»
|
