Everything But The Weed

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When U.S. and associated troops are attacked by rockets, artillery or mortars, they have partial ways of defending themselves . They can reply with heavy gunfire, but they might by mistake hit friendly forces in the process . They can try to take cover, but they have only seconds to dodge the short-range projectiles.

Is there a better option ?

The United States Army and a Boeing-led industry team are developing a capability that could change the warfield , and save lives. Called the High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator (HEL TD), the system will consist of a laser weapon system mounted on a army truck or a 17 Seater Minibus or LPG Vans

Traveling almost at the speed of light — 186,000 miles per second — the laser beam will hit objects with extraordinary swiftness . And no bullets will rain down on anyone in the process.

“This transformational, ultra-precision capability will vividly improve warfighters’ capability to counter rocket, artillery and mortar projectiles,” said Michael Rinn, vice president of Boeing Directed Energy Systems.

Under contract to the Army, Boeing last year completed the blue print of a laser beam control system (BCS) on a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT), a widely used military vehicle built by Oshkosh Defense in Oshkosh, Wis. Boeing publize earlier this year that it has acknowledged the eight -wheel, 500-horsepower truck from Oshkosh and has begun building the ruggedized BCS. The truck will be delivered to Boeing’s facility in Huntsville, Ala., this summer for integration with the BCS.

“HEL TD, which was only a dream on a page 3 years ago, experienced a quick but smooth transition to the design phase and now the manufacturing of real hardware,” said Blaine Beardsley, Boeing HEL TD program manager. “The Army, Boeing and our subcontractors have attended to even the minutest detail , and as a result, we are meeting or above all requirements.”

A main “subassembly” of the BCS is the beam manager , a dome-shaped tower that will pull out above the roof of the truck when it engages targets. The beam director , which can rotate 360 degrees, will contain a set of mirrors that point and focus the beam. Other BCS subassemblies will focus the laser beam and transfer it from the laser to the beam director. The BCS also will find and track enemies .

HEL TD testing against real targets, but using a low-power “surrogate ” for the high-energy laser, is planed for fiscal year 2011 at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. These tests will reveal the ability to target and hit moving projectiles with the HEL TD system. The truck will then be prepared with a high-energy laser that can destroy those targets.

“These handwork could pave the way for future advanced of the technology — and ultimately use on the battlefield,” said Bill Gnacek, the Army’s HEL TD program manager. “Our main goal is to transition this HEL TD technology into a formal acquisition program and ultimately place it in the hands of Army commanders, providing them an efficient , lethal ability to respond to rocket, artillery and mortar projectiles.”

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