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More from MSM on " Laser Optical Countermeasures Against Threat Environment Scenarios (LOCATES), " shared with the usual disclaimer...
Navy studying ways to protect ships from laser-guided threats
CHRIS LAMBIE, Halifax Chronicle-Herald, 2 Jan 09
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The military’s research arm is planning to spend $3.5 million demonstrating new technology that aims to protect warships from laser-assisted threats in harbours and coastal regions.
Those include sensors that can detect and track lasers as well as counter the threats to navy ships presented by weapons such as laser-guided bombs and missiles.
The threat has been on the horizon for a decade, said Eric Lerhe, a retired naval commodore living in Dartmouth.
"But it’s only when we got into the littorals (or coastal regions) that these short-range systems became of concern, and is it ever of concern," said Mr. Lerhe, now a research fellow at Dalhousie University’s Centre for Foreign Policy Studies.
Due to the curvature of the earth, a shoulder-fired, laser-guided missile could be used against a warship from a distance of 11 kilometres, he said.
"If the guy is low down at the water firing from a small boat, he can effectively shoot at a frigate-size target about seven miles away," Mr. Lerhe said.
"Ship-killing missiles" provide "a very sound reason for getting all the countermeasures possible," he said.
Laser-guided bombs and missiles are now common among western militaries, Mr. Lerhe said.
"How many of those are held by the opposition? I don’t know. And how much have Russia and China copied to have (similar) systems? I suspect very much."
He pointed to laser-guided bombs that Israel has been dropping Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip.
"They show a picture from an airplane and they drop a bomb onto the crosshairs. Guess what is at the end of the crosshairs? A laser point, and the bomb itself has a laser seeker," Mr. Lerhe said.
"If we can see it on TV happening to ground targets, well, we can sure as (the) devil count on it happening to sea-based targets." ....
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Navy studying ways to protect ships from laser-guided threats
CHRIS LAMBIE, Halifax Chronicle-Herald, 2 Jan 09
Article link
The military’s research arm is planning to spend $3.5 million demonstrating new technology that aims to protect warships from laser-assisted threats in harbours and coastal regions.
Those include sensors that can detect and track lasers as well as counter the threats to navy ships presented by weapons such as laser-guided bombs and missiles.
The threat has been on the horizon for a decade, said Eric Lerhe, a retired naval commodore living in Dartmouth.
"But it’s only when we got into the littorals (or coastal regions) that these short-range systems became of concern, and is it ever of concern," said Mr. Lerhe, now a research fellow at Dalhousie University’s Centre for Foreign Policy Studies.
Due to the curvature of the earth, a shoulder-fired, laser-guided missile could be used against a warship from a distance of 11 kilometres, he said.
"If the guy is low down at the water firing from a small boat, he can effectively shoot at a frigate-size target about seven miles away," Mr. Lerhe said.
"Ship-killing missiles" provide "a very sound reason for getting all the countermeasures possible," he said.
Laser-guided bombs and missiles are now common among western militaries, Mr. Lerhe said.
"How many of those are held by the opposition? I don’t know. And how much have Russia and China copied to have (similar) systems? I suspect very much."
He pointed to laser-guided bombs that Israel has been dropping Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip.
"They show a picture from an airplane and they drop a bomb onto the crosshairs. Guess what is at the end of the crosshairs? A laser point, and the bomb itself has a laser seeker," Mr. Lerhe said.
"If we can see it on TV happening to ground targets, well, we can sure as (the) devil count on it happening to sea-based targets." ....
More on link
