U.S. laser zaps mortar shell in field test

TUCSON, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Major U.S. defense contractor Raytheon announced Tuesday it had successfully tested a system that uses a quick-draw laser to protect U.S. ground troops against mortar shells and small rockets.

The Laser Area Defense System (LADS) builds on the proven Phalanx weapons system to instantly lock on to an incoming threat and knock it out of the sky with a prototype solid-state laser powered by a commercial generator or even juice from standard grid electricity.

The system would make it possible to better protect U.S. bases and outposts against attacks by mortars and light infantry rockets.

The most-recent static ground tests used LADS to destroy 60-millimeter mortar rounds from a distance of more than 550 yards. Dynamic field testing will likely begin this year.

"In just six months, Raytheon and government engineers went from an idea to operational field testing of a solid-state laser system that offers the potential of near-term protection for our troops," said Mike Booen, vice president at Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson. "Our solid-state LADS proves you don't have to wait another three to five years for solid-state lasers to have military utility on the battlefield. They are ready now, with no chemicals required."

One of the goals of the LADS project is to develop an alternative to current chemical lasers, which pack a punch in terms of power output but present logistical and potentially even environmental challenges. A solid-state laser doesn't require those caustic chemicals.

Project engineers also used existing targeting and optics components to build the prototype at a significant cost savings over customized design, Raytheon said.