Microwave Technology to be Adapted for Airline Defense
June 15, 2005 :: AP :: News
Raytheon has developed a high-powered microwave beam to defend airliners against shoulder-launched missiles, reports the Associated Press. The system, known as “Vigilant Eagle,” uses infrared sensors to create a protective dome around an airport. In the event of a surface-to-air missile launch, a microwave gun (roughly the size of a billboard) blasts the missile with a high-energy beam, confusing its guidance system and knocking it off track. Raytheon estimates that if the U.S. deployed “Vigilant Eagle” at the 30 busiest domestic airports (at a cost of $25 million per airport), it would protect 70 percent of inbound and outbound flights.
Although the sort of missile defense involved here (anti-anti-aircraft missiles) is of a very different sort than that concerning ballistic missiles, the development of high energy technology could conceivably be transferable. (Article, Link)
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Army Laser Weapon Proceeding
June 14, 2005 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
The U.S. Army is developing a vehicle-mounted laser defense system, reports Jane’s Defense Weekly. According to the report, contractors have developed a concept vehicle known as TALON, which will use a 100 kW solid-state laser to shoot down rockets, mortars, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The laser would be mounted on a manned ground vehicle, and both will be powered by a hybrid electric motor. (Article, Link)
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India’s Interest in Missile Defenses
February 11, 2005 :: Statesman (India) :: News
Citing an announcement by defense officials at a press conference, India’s The Statesman reports that India could establish an air and missile defense shield for a 200 square kilometer area within five or six years, quoting defense scientists said. Such a system could reportedly be duplicated to protect “big cities and strategic facilities like nuclear reactors and space launching sites against incoming missiles.” The interceptor is said to be a surface-to-air missile with a range of 80-85 km, and another interceptor with a range of about 20 km. The Akash SAM is mentioned as a possible interceptor for such a system; “Meanwhile, the Akash will have some anti-missile system capabilities.”
As for the radars for such a system, Mr M. Natarajan, DRDO chief and scientific advisor to the defense minister, said they might include a phased-array radar placed on an executive jet, such as the Brazilian Embrear. India has already purchased from Israel the Phalcon aircraft-mounted radar system. (Article, Link)
» Jan. 25, 2005: India Daily: India pursuing manipulation of ionosphere to fry electronics of incoming warheads
» Feb. 12, 2005: Hindustan Times: India BMD to use Prithvi missile, Israeli-origin Green Pine radar
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Israeli Official Calls for Space-Based Defenses
January 12, 2005 :: Defense News :: News
Yuval Steinitz, chairman of the Israel’s Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, recently called for his nation to expand its sea and space-based defenses against a number of forms of attack, reports Defense News. At a December 22 symposium, he urged in particular anti-satellite missiles, satellite-attacking lasers, and ship-based missiles. Israel’s “lack of ground territory—and our obligation to defend the homeland from attack—drives the need to develop a strategic envelope of air, sea and space forces not only for defense, but for attack.”
Steinitz’s proposals will not be well received by those arms controllers theologically opposed to the weaponization of space, but are in fact quite well founded. The importance of space in warfare has already been seen in the use of GPS and other satellite assets. In a war with another space-capable power, such as China, anti-satellite weapons would, it is plausible, be widely used on both sides. The defense of our assets in space is a simple necessity, and the basing of missile defense interceptors in space is simply essential to any effective strategic missile defense. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: High Energy Defenses, Israel, Space-Based Systems
South Korea Develops Electronic Missile Jamming
January 12, 2005 :: The Chosun Ilbo (S. Korea) :: News
The South Korean Defense Ministry reported on January 9th that it had developed an electronic jamming system which could be used against aircraft and missiles. The system described as “ALQ-X” is said to produce a large output of disturbance electronic waves, and is said to be mounted on South Korean KF-16 and F-4 fighter aircraft as well as transport planes. The system, apparently imported from the United States, will be deployable in the second half of 2005.
The report is somewhat unclear about whether or not such a system would be effective against North Korean surface to surface ballistic missiles, or if it would only be useful at short ranges against air-to-air or ground-to-air launches. (Article, Link)
» January 12, 2005: East Asia Intel on South Korean jamming device
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Japan Considering Laser Interceptor Cooperation
January 10, 2005 :: News
Japan, which has been ambitiously moving towards a number of missile defense programs, is also considering cooperation with the U.S. on the issue of laser missile interception, reports the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper. The U.S. has reportedly suggested such cooperation to Japan unofficially, which could include the airborne laser program. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: High Energy Defenses, Japan
» Missile system details for: Airborne Laser (ABL)
Test Fire of Laser for ABL
November 12, 2004 :: LA Times :: News
The Missile Defense agency conducted its first ever demonstration test of the laser weapon which will be used on the developing Airborne Laser (ABL) program, announces Northrop Grumman.
The ground-based test, called “First Light,” took place on November 10 at Edwards Air Force Base, in California, and involved the a simultaneous firing of all six laser modules comprising the Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL), according to the press release. (Article, Link)
» Northrop Grumman press release
» Nov. 1: Northrop Grumman offers laser weapon to army for mortar interception
» MDA release on laser test
» More stories on: Air, High Energy Defenses, Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Airborne Laser (ABL)
Northrop Offers High Energy Laser to Army
November 1, 2004 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
Northrop Grumman has offered the US Army a directed-energy laser weapon which could be ready within 18 months, reports Jane’s.
The weapon is termed the High Energy Laser for Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (HELRAM) defense system, which has been derived from its work on the U.S.-Israel joint work on the Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL)—and perhaps also its work on the Airborne Laser (ABL). (Article, Link)
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THEL Laser Interception Test Successful
August 26, 2004 :: Northrop Grumman :: News
While Israel’s second test of the Arrow-2 interceptor resulted in a failure to destroy an air launched target, a test of the Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser (MTHEL) was successful, developer Northrop Grumman today announced.
The test took place at White Sands Missile Range on August 24, and was against not ballistic missiles but smaller mortar rounds. The press release notes that “as the nation’s only laser weapon, the THEL testbed has shot down a variety of threats since 2000, showing its versatility by destroying about three dozen targets, ranging from Katyusha rockets to artillery shells and large-caliber rockets, and now mortar threats as well.”
The success of the THEL against such smaller threats should point, however, to the potential against larger missiles. Whether based in the air, on land, or in space, the potential for high energy defenses which operate at the speed of light is unmatched by any countermeasure technology. (Article, Link)
» Northrop Grumman press release
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» Missile system details for: Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL)
Possible U.S.-Japan Joint Laser Program
May 13, 2004 :: News
Japanese Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba suggested to Japan’s the Lower House Emergency Legislation Special Committee that the country should look into a joint study with the United States to develop aircraft-mounted lasers, reports the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. Such a program would likely parallel or be in conjunction with the United States’ current Airborne Laser (ABL) program.
Japan is also looking into a number of other American missile defense programs, including Patriot, the Aegis sea-based SM-3 missile, and land-based missile radars. It has been suggested that Japan may begin deploying defenses by 2006. (Link)
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