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)
» Northrop Grumman press release
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» Missile system details for: Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL)
