new gunship armament
Boeing Installs High-Energy Laser on Laser Gunship Aircraft
globalsecurity
Dec. 10, 2007
The Boeing Company has installed a high-energy chemical laser aboard a C-130H aircraft, achieving a key milestone for the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration program.
Boeing completed the laser installation Dec. 4 at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. The laser, including its major subsystem, a 12,000-pound integrated laser module, was moved into place aboard the aircraft and aligned with the previously-installed beam control system, which will direct the laser beam to its target.
With the laser installed, Boeing is set to conduct a series of tests leading up to a demonstration in 2008 in which the program will fire the laser in-flight at mission-representative ground targets to demonstrate the military utility of high-energy lasers. The test team will fire the laser through a rotating turret that extends through the aircraft's belly.
"The installation of the high-energy laser shows that the ATL program continues to make tremendous progress toward giving the warfighter a speed-of-light, precision engagement capability that will dramatically reduce collateral damage," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems. "Next year, we will fire the laser at ground targets, demonstrating the military utility of this transformational directed energy weapon."
The program achieved two other major milestones earlier this year. "Low-power" flight tests were completed in June at Kirtland; the ATL aircraft used its flight demonstration hardware and a low-power laser to find and track moving and stationary ground targets. The flight demonstration hardware includes the beam control system; weapon system consoles, which display high-resolution imagery and enable the tracking of targets; and sensors. The low-power laser, a surrogate for the high-energy laser, hit its intended target in each of more than a dozen tests. Also, in late July, the high-energy laser concluded laboratory testing at the Davis Advanced Laser Facility at Kirtland, demonstrating reliable operations in more than 50 firings.
ATL, which Boeing is developing for the U.S. Department of Defense, will destroy, damage or disable targets with little to no collateral damage, supporting missions on the battlefield and in urban operations. Boeing's Advanced Tactical Laser industry team includes L-3 Communications/Brashear, which made the laser turret, and HYTEC, Inc., which made various structural elements of the weapon system.
globalsecurity
Dec. 10, 2007
The Boeing Company has installed a high-energy chemical laser aboard a C-130H aircraft, achieving a key milestone for the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration program.
Boeing completed the laser installation Dec. 4 at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. The laser, including its major subsystem, a 12,000-pound integrated laser module, was moved into place aboard the aircraft and aligned with the previously-installed beam control system, which will direct the laser beam to its target.
With the laser installed, Boeing is set to conduct a series of tests leading up to a demonstration in 2008 in which the program will fire the laser in-flight at mission-representative ground targets to demonstrate the military utility of high-energy lasers. The test team will fire the laser through a rotating turret that extends through the aircraft's belly.
"The installation of the high-energy laser shows that the ATL program continues to make tremendous progress toward giving the warfighter a speed-of-light, precision engagement capability that will dramatically reduce collateral damage," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems. "Next year, we will fire the laser at ground targets, demonstrating the military utility of this transformational directed energy weapon."
The program achieved two other major milestones earlier this year. "Low-power" flight tests were completed in June at Kirtland; the ATL aircraft used its flight demonstration hardware and a low-power laser to find and track moving and stationary ground targets. The flight demonstration hardware includes the beam control system; weapon system consoles, which display high-resolution imagery and enable the tracking of targets; and sensors. The low-power laser, a surrogate for the high-energy laser, hit its intended target in each of more than a dozen tests. Also, in late July, the high-energy laser concluded laboratory testing at the Davis Advanced Laser Facility at Kirtland, demonstrating reliable operations in more than 50 firings.
ATL, which Boeing is developing for the U.S. Department of Defense, will destroy, damage or disable targets with little to no collateral damage, supporting missions on the battlefield and in urban operations. Boeing's Advanced Tactical Laser industry team includes L-3 Communications/Brashear, which made the laser turret, and HYTEC, Inc., which made various structural elements of the weapon system.
0
-
Word has it that Bill Gates bought one for deer hunting purposes. [:o)] 0 -
Cool Microed rag heads 0 -
Remember, for every weapon we
come out with Amed comes out
with a weapon to counter it!
Here's one of the latest
Mideast simpleminded counter
weapons to confuse gunships by
putting the wrong time on the
clouds - to confuse the gunship's
battle schedules!
... pretty clever, if you ask me.
[:D]0 -
I admire the C-130. One of the best things America has made.
The laser idea is pretty good too.0 -
The laser is a good idea if you fighting a mobolized force, but when it is nothing but a bunch of guys running around with AK's your better off with a AC-130 0 -
??? this is news? they did that at least 10 years ago. maybe it was bigger and heavier back then (or maybe not!) but still a HECL... this ain't news! ???
the primary mission of such a setup was, at the time I read it, to loiter within range of missile launchpads and burn them before/as they took off.0 -
quote:Originally posted by buschmaster
??? this is news? they did that at least 10 years ago. maybe it was bigger and heavier back then (or maybe not!) but still a HECL... this ain't news! ???What you're talking about was a totally different animal. They're both chemical lasers, but use very different technology. In the end the ones you're referring to couldn't be fielded due to exposure of crews to chemical hazards. This newer design has enabled these to be much smaller and lighter, with no risk to personnel.
This type can also be used as either a lethal or non-lethal weapon and delivers precision use at over 12 miles. It's beam is invisible to the naked eye and with the gunships advanced air to ground sensor systems can used as a target designator for other personnel or weapons.
Boeing has also developed a ground vehicle system that uses this same technolgy for IED hunting. Cool.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Mk 19
The laser is a good idea if you fighting a mobolized force, but when it is nothing but a bunch of guys running around with AK's your better off with a AC-130I don't understand where you're coming from here.
These weapons are particularly well suited for use against those guys running around with AK's in a crowded urban environment. Standard gunship weapons are precise, but they're still firing explosive shells and have an unavoidable danger radius. This weapon could be used to provide serious fire support to ground units in close contact without endangering friendlies.
With this weapon, a single vehicle rolling down a crowded roadway or a specific structure could be taken out without hitting anything else.
Factor in too that with this weapon's long range the aircraft doesn't have to actually be overhead and when it fires the only clue it's there will be when something on the ground suddenly fries. It's completely invisible.0 -
Not to mention the defensive potential to intercept incoming SAMs and such.
Likely lasers will be mounted on the JSF too, using the turbine shaft to provide power to the laser (where the lift fan is on the B version)
Israel already has laser systems that can intercept air to ground+cruise missiles (not ballistic missiles though, if those get within 10 miles, its too late).
Its a defensive and offensive precision weapon- but how good is it against armored targets (will mirrors become standard armor-making them very vunerable to conventional guided missiles?)0 -
quote:Originally posted by Mk 19
The laser is a good idea if you fighting a mobolized force, but when it is nothing but a bunch of guys running around with AK's your better off with a AC-130
Can't this thing waste a whole neighborhood? Rev that sucker up so it cooks anything near it and then sweep it wildly back and forth while laughing like a maniac. Where do I sign up?0 -
quote:Originally posted by CA sucks
Not to mention the defensive potential to intercept incoming SAMs and such.
Likely lasers will be mounted on the JSF too, using the turbine shaft to provide power to the laser (where the lift fan is on the B version)
Israel already has laser systems that can intercept air to ground+cruise missiles (not ballistic missiles though, if those get within 10 miles, its too late).
Its a defensive and offensive precision weapon- but how good is it against armored targets (will mirrors become standard armor-making them very vunerable to conventional guided missiles?)
We already have these. Our air to air system is mounted on a 747 platform.0 -
Just as long as you don't get out the waterboard... 0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
12 comments