A mobile laser weapon developed by Israel and the United States has scored its first success.
In its first test, the Mobile Tactical Higher Energy Laser weapon destroyed an artillery shell traveling at supersonic speed. The trial on Nov. 5 took place at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico and launched the demonstration phase of the mobile system.
Officials said Israel and the United States are expecting to complete a mobile version of the laser by 2006. A stationary laser system was considered too bulky for the Israeli military.
"The MTHEL tracked, locked and fired a burst of photons on an artillery projectile," said a statement by the U.S. Army Space Command. "Seconds later, at a point well short of its intended destination, the projectile was destroyed."
[On Nov. 7, Israel's military tested its U.S.-built PAC-2 anti-missile battery. Military sources said the PAC-2 destroyed two air targets in southern Israel, Middle East Newsline reported.]
Until now, the THEL system has been tested against Soviet-made Katyusha rockets,successfully destroying 25 such rockets, fired individually and in salvos. This was the first test against the much faster artillery shell.
The MTHEL consists of three major subsystems. They are the command, control, communications and intelligence [C3I] subsystem, the pointer-tracker subsystem and the laser subsystem.
Officials said the U.S. Army, which is administering the project, plans a series of tests to determine MTHEL requirements and demonstrate the system's capabilities against a wide range of airborne targets. The project would require another $150 million until the system is completed, they said.
"We've shown that even an artillery projectile hurtling through the air at supersonic speed is no match for a laser," said Lt. Gen. Joseph Cosumano, commander of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command and Army Space Command. "Tactical high-energy lasers have the capacity to change the face of the battlefield."
The THEL is being led by the U.S. defense giant TRW. Israeli companies in the project include the state-owned Israel Aircraft Industries, Tadiran Systems and Rafael, Israel Armament Development Authority.
Officials said the project has cost more than $200 million. Israel has contributed about a third, mostly for development. The United States has covered the cost of testing and production.
THEL is meant to protect Israel from the a rocket threat by Hizbullah in southern Lebanon. Hizbullah is said to have nearly 10,000 rockets and missiles along Israel's northern border.
The two countries are also examining the feasibility of developing a laser that could be used against low-flying aircraft. Another proposal is to place a laser aboard a helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft.
