HUNTSVILLE, Ala. " The future is pointed forward like a laser as researchers find ways to support and defend the fighting men and women of America and its allies.
On June 27, Boeing and members of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command came together to show their support for the Army’s High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator.
“We are very excited to be partnering with the Army on this program,” said Dr. Greg Hyslop, Boeing Strategic Missile and Defense Systems vice president and general manager. “We believe that directed energy really is the next leap forward in weapons systems for the United States. Once we have harnessed the precision and power it is going to give our warfighters a tremendous advantage.”
Boeing recently completed system integration of key components for the HEL TD which included installation of the Beam Control System and critical hardware onto an Oshkosh Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck vehicle platform.
The system consists of mirrors, high-speed processors and high-speed optical sensors.
The HEL TD program’s objective is to demonstrate in a relevant operational environment that a mobile solid state laser weapon system can provide an effective mission capability to counter rocket, artillery and mortar projectiles.
Testing will take place at the Army’s High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF) at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
“I want to thank the government and contracting team for their outstanding performance in designing, fabricating and integrating the High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator,” said Dr. Michael Lavan, Emerging Technologies Directorate, USASMDC/ARSTRAT Technical Center director. “We have taken a major step toward providing our warfighters a truly game-changing counter rockets, artillery and mortars vehicle.”
HEL TD is a cornerstone of the Army’s high-energy laser program and will support the transition of directed energy technologies to Army acquisition programs.
Soon the HEL TD will prepare for testing at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The tests will demonstrate the system’s ability to acquire, track and target moving projectiles.
In operation, HEL TD will acquire, track and select an aim point on a target. The system will receive the laser beam from the HEL TD laser device, reshape and align the beam and then focus it on the target.
“This is a huge deal,” said Mike Rinn, Boeing Directed Energy Systems vice president. “This represents about four years of hard work by the government and the Boeing team to build this demonstrator, but it also represents decades of technology maturation. It gives our warfighters an advantage with speed-of-light weapons, precise pointing and the promise of a potentially endless magazine.
“The design of this demonstrator is to do counter rocket, artillery and mortars, which it gives you an alternative to the kinetic ways to do that now with bullet against bullet,” he added. “The advantages will be astounding.”
HEL TD is a cornerstone of the Army’s high-energy laser program and will support the transition of directed energy technologies to Army acquisition programs.
Funding and technology support for the Army’s high energy laser program elements has been provided by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology and the High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office.
In July 2007, USASMDC/ARSTRAT awarded a contract to Boeing to begin developing the initial phase for a truck-mounted laser weapon system that destroys rockets, artillery shells and mortar rounds. The Beam Control System mounted on the vehicle will go through initial testing and characterization at White Sands Missile Range.
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