David Donald
Monday, 16 June, 2008
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Raytheon is forging ahead with a demonstration programme to show that a laser can equal or better the performance of traditional gun-based systems, with greater development potential and at reduced cost. The company’s Laser Area Defense System (LA DS) utilises the Phalanx platform, combined with current solid-state laser capability to tackle the very real threat of mortars and Katyusha rockets.
Directed-energy development has been ongoing for many years, but the transition of technology from the laboratory to the warfighter has yet to occur. LADS is an effort to harness current laser technology to short-term military needs. “Mortars are in the warfighter’s face right now,” said Mike Booen, VP Advanced Missile Defense and Directed Energy Weapons at Raytheon Missile Systems. “Troops in Iraq are facing the threat from mortars and Katyushas every day, and there is a critical requirement for this type of equipment. We know, because we are shipping land-based Phalanx systems to Iraq all the time.”
Rather than wait for further laser developments, Raytheon elected to see what was possible with current technology. First tests demonstrated that the laser was lethal at tactically significant ranges – more than 500m. This January another programme was initiated to demonstrate that a laser could be used against flying mortars. Demonstrations are scheduled for the autumn. If the tests are successful, Booen suggested that an operational capability would have been achieved, and that urgent operational requirements could be met rapidly if required. A more likely outcome of successful tests, said Booen, would be a boost in interest and a demand for
further tests against a wider range of threats.
LADS exploits the widely deployed Phalanx system. The turret could mount a laser and its associated beam director alone, or have the laser mounted alongside the existing gun.
Lasers offer several advantages over gun defence. Firstly, there is performance. Already, the laser is predicted to offer a greater area and range coverage. The laser offers better performance against multiple mortar attacks, and it will be able to match more sophisticated threats in the future, such as guided mortars and rockets. Secondly, the laser eases the logistics and maintenance demands. It is a continuous-wave weapon that only needs electricity. The laser lacks the moving parts that operate under high stress loads in the gun mechanism, in turn significantly reducing maintenance requirements. Basing LADS on the Phalanx system greatly reduces development, production and logistics costs when compared with an all-new system.
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LADS can be mounted alongside the existing 20mm Phalanx weapon, complete with beam director
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16-06-2008, 11:01
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