laser weapons still under development

[Marlin T]

I bet it isn't cheap, but what are legs, arms, lives worth?
I hope this makes it to the field smartly.
___________________________________

Boeing Laser Avenger Destroys Improvised Explosive Devices in Test

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Dec. 1, 2009 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Army successfully completed a test in September in which a laser system mounted on an Avenger combat vehicle destroyed 50 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) similar to those used by adversaries in war zones.
During the laser firings Sept. 22-24 at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Laser Avenger neutralized multiple types of IEDs, including large-caliber artillery munitions and smaller bomblets and mortar rounds. The system operated at safe distances from the targets and under a variety of conditions, including different angles and ranges. Soldiers traveling with Laser Avenger would not have to get out of their armored vehicles or wait for an explosive ordnance disposal team to destroy an IED and continue their mission.
"Improvised explosive devices continue to threaten U.S. troops deployed in war zones, and Laser Avenger provides the ultra-precision, stand-off capability our warfighters need today to safely neutralize those threats," said Gary Fitzmire, vice president and program director of Boeing Missile Defense Systems' Directed Energy Systems unit. "In addition, Laser Avenger's versatility makes it useful in a wide range of battlefield conditions."
The U.S. Defense Department's Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) sponsored the test, which was conducted by Boeing and the Army Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space.
The test follows 2008 and 2009 demonstrations in which Laser Avenger shot down a small unmanned aerial vehicle in each event, and a 2007 demonstration in which an earlier version of Laser Avenger destroyed five targets representing IEDs and unexploded ordnance.
Boeing Directed Energy Systems in Albuquerque, N.M., and the Boeing Combat Systems Global Forces and Robotics Systems team in Huntsville cooperatively developed Laser Avenger, which integrates a directed-energy weapon together with the existing kinetic weapons on the proven Avenger air defense system developed by Combat Systems. Laser Avenger is a Boeing-funded initiative to demonstrate that directed energy weapons are maturing and are relevant to today's battlefield.
Boeing is developing laser systems for a variety of U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy warfighter applications. These systems include the Airborne Laser, Free Electron Laser, High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator and Tactical Relay Mirror System.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.
# # #
Contact:
Marc Selinger
Boeing Missile Defense Systems
703-872-4240
marc.selinger@boeing.com
Chuck Cadena
Boeing Missile Defense Systems
703-872-4503
chuck.cadena@boeing.com

[ampaterry]

An amazing device, isn't it?
It is used to perform eye surgery -
It is used in my level to obtain equal true height across distances -
It is used in kidney stone surgery -
It is used in a pointer during meetings to draw attention to specific items on the screen -
And now to safely explode IED's.

I am curious how much it would be effected by heavy particulate matter between the device and the target - fog or heavy dust, for instance -

[GMFWoodchuck]

Isn't it cheaper to desonate a bomb with another bomb? That, right now anyway, is just a really expensive desonation procedure. Can't they just shoot a grenade at the suspected IED instead of spending billions on a new way of blowing things up with a fancy laser.

[Marlin T]

They have been working with lasers for quite some time Woodchuck.

There is a 747 that was under development, and working, to shoot down incoming missiles and it appears this is a scaled down version. So this isn't really a new product.

I guess beings that Obomba canceled and new and any better 747 versions, they started to scale it down to actual portable size.

That is a good question Terry, I too am wondering about the range of that thing in adverse conditions. I wonder if they are going to install it on the Predator?

[Bobitis]

Check it out

http://current.newsweek.com/budgettr...sile_lase.html

[Marlin T]

Thanks for posting that Bob, good one