Directed Energy Weapon Systems Update

of the United States due to the large increase of unknown activity in our solar
system.. Looking like something from the chronicles of Atlantis, THEL/ACTD tracks an object continuously, applying
a high energy laser beam until the target is destroyed. A tactical description of two such systems follows. FRJ

Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL)

THEL/ACTD (Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrator) is a ground-based, short-range air defense system
that is being developed by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Army and the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMoD). L-3
Brashear played a key role in the THEL/ACTD, producing the pointer/tracker's beam director unit that focuses the
high energy laser beam and keeps it accurately pointed at the rocket until it is destroyed. L-3 Brashear accelerated
the development of the beam director to meet the demanding schedule and performance requirements of the
THEL/ACTD program. THEL/ACTD will use a high-energy chemical laser to protect civilians, friendly forces and
military assets against rocket attacks. It demonstrated the effectiveness of using high energy lasers to defeat
short-range terrorist threats such as Katyusha rockets, mortars and artillery.

speed of light against a variety of tactical and strategic threats. These versatile
systems can counter either late detection threats (e.g., short-range rockets) or tactical and intercontinental ballistic
missiles. Northrop Grumman's Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) set a new performance standard by destroying
salvos of artillery rockets fired in rapid succession. The company is also developing the megawatt-class laser that
will fly aboard the Airborne Laser (ABL).

Northrop Grumman has built more high power (100 W to low kW) solid state lasers with excellent beam quality than
anyone in industry. And we have packaged more than a dozen of these for use in a variety of harsh environments
encountered in real-world operations. Northrop Grumman continues to evolve solid state lasers for use aboard
tomorrow's land-, sea-, air- and space-based systems for a wide variety of missions: from illuminating targets to
destroying incoming threats, from air defense to mine destruction, from ship protection to electronic warfare.

Countering short range and late-detection threats with confidence requires a terminal defense system that is fast,
accurate and capable of close-in kills with no collateral damage to friendly assets. It requires a system that can
engage and kill threats with high kill probability and a deep magazine; that is easy to reload and therefore can fire
almost continuously.

It demands the speed-of-light defense of a laser.

Laser Defense Systems Have Come of Age
The Tactical High Energy Laser Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrator (THEL ACTD) was designed and
built by a Northrop Grumman-led team for the U.S. Army Space & Missile Defense Command and the Israel
Ministry of Defence. Now being used as the THEL Test Bed, THEL has been proving laser defense system
capability since June 2000, when it began shooting down Katyusha rockets singly and in salvos.

From the earliest days of modern warfare, the only way to escape an incoming artillery shell has been to find a
bunker. In late 2002, the THEL Test Bed made history when, in a remarkably short time, the system was upgraded
and began shooting down artillery shells in flight. In only a few days of testing, THEL shot down multiple projectiles,
highlighting its potential to change the nature of warfare as it continues to engage new threat types.

This remarkable success was made possible by Northrop Grumman’s disciplined approach to design, integration
and testing of this revolutionary system. THEL does not depend on exotic or unproven technologies. It was
designed from the beginning as an operational laser weapon demonstrator, not a “white coat laboratory system.”
The result: it’s real and it works – after nearly four years of field operations, and after shooting down dozens of
threats, it continues to operate reliably, engaging new threats it was not originally designed to engage.

We will be bringing you more updates soon, go to Eyepod.Org Front Page for more weapon systems...
Frank Riccardi Director@Eyepod.Org