Interesting new application

[MAJOR_Baker]

It seems the solid state laser is ready for some new trials.  Interesting to see if it works.

http://www.defensetech.org/archives/001437.html

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

Any idea the cyclic/recharge rate?

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

I wonder if such a system could be developed to counter the threat from RPGs and even ATGW?

 

[Duke]

There are commercial S/S 10kw Nd:Yag lasers that work in CW (continuous wave) mode, driven by laser diodes. If the Zeus system is based on this it would be tough to use on a short range weapon such as an RPG due to warm up time and time for target acquisition/lock. As noted by S-Baker, 2 minutes per piece would make sense in that the laser has to warm the ordnance up sufficiently to cause spontaneous detonation. Whether that figure includes acquisition and lock is not mentioned.

Duke

 

[Freddy Chef]

Mind you, the Zeus-HLONS was firing at land-mines, and un-exploded ordinance (stationary targets) from a HMMVW, at a range of 100-300m. (The article doesn't say whether the HMMVW was moving or not.)

Lt. Gen. Larry Dodgen, US Army Space and Missile Defense Command, said, â Å“Its power level and utility is new and is not for aerial targets, it's for unexploded ordnance. It is a system that works, and we certainly would like to use it whenever possible.â ?