Wednesday, November 19, 2008

MTHEL

Also Known As
Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser

Origin
United States of America

Contractor/s
Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI)
Northrop Grumman

Description: The Mobile Tactical High-Energy Laser (MHTEL) has been designed to engage artillery rounds, rockets, mortar, rounds short-range ballistic missiles, UAVs, and air-to-surface cruise missiles. It is a derivative of proven THEL (Tactical High-Energy Laser) and might be used as an advanced, revolutionary defense system against many airborne threats.

The US Army and the Ministry of Defense of Israel are funding this program on a cooperative effort. Since 2000, The US Army is testing the laser weapon system to demonstrate its suitability in a realistic scenario against most common threats. The US Army intends to field the directed energy weapon within the Future Combat Systems making a great leap forward in modern warfare.

In August 2004, the THEL demonstrator scored another success destroying mortar rounds at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. The laser weapon defeated both single mortar rounds and multiple mortar rounds fired in a salvo. Until August 2004, the system had been validated against artillery shells and rockets.

News
Northrop-Grumman Introduces Skyguard Laser-based Air Defense System

Tactical High Energy Laser Shoots Down Multiple Mortar Rounds

MTHEL High Energy Laser Destroys Large Caliber Rocket

Image Gallery

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, October 25, 2008

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