More on the cancelled THEL and Skyguard today
Lasers Over Lebanon
by James Dunnigan
Many Israelis are complaining that development of a, laser based anti-missile system, called THEL, which was recently cancelled, could have been used to stop some of the Hizbollah rockets coming out of Lebanon. Meanwhile, the American partner in THEL development is now offering a smaller version, Skyguard, for protecting commercial aircraft from portable anti-aircraft missiles. The manufacturer, Northrop Grumman, originally developed THEL (Tactical High Energy Laser) for combat situations. Tests last year showed THEL was able to knock down barrages of incoming mortar shells.Israel was a partner in the development of THEL, which was originally supposed to enter service in 2007. When THEL was cancelled earlier this year, the laser still needed work, but the THEL radar was already in good shape. In 2004, Israel used the THEL radar to detect incoming Palestinian rockets fired from Gaza, and this provided an opportunity to operate the radar under combat conditions.
The THEL system was designed to knock down larger, and better made, rockets than the home made Palestinian Kassam rockets. In other words, THEL would have been very useful knocking down the factory made rockets Hizbollah has been firing at Israel over the last few weeks.
One is again COMPELLED to inquire if we can rule out the posibility that among the plans laid by the Mullahs are smuggled 6 and 9 foot long katyushas in the USA. If the Israeli Air Force, whose density over the area of lebanon south of the litani must have been substantial, could not stop the katyusha firings, how much more difficult would this task be in the USA? How much more compelling when these stupid pipes slam in to any small city of 20,000 with three local TV stations there live to upload to CNN and FOX and NBC? Could Manhattan be missed from central NJ? The refineries at Elizabeth NJ? Would we even be able to pick the Katyusha up on radar and know the vicinity of launch in this huge country?
Are we READY?
Why is such a system not already deployed?
Failure of imagination
Continue reading "More on the cancelled THEL and Skyguard today" »
- Tech Toy Update - Here's A Big One That Slipped In Quietly....want To Know What We Are Really Concerned About?
In October, the U.S. Homeland Security Department selected Skyguard as an option to protect civil aircraft and commercial airports from the threat of man-portable missiles. Northrop has also been developing a laser for the Airborne Laser program. I have...
- Skyshield Is One Step Closer, The End To Katyushas, And Qassams, And Hizbo's Main Weapon
From Gertz.. New Skyshield system destroys enemy missiles with cloud of tungsten submunitions TEL AVIV — Lockheed Martin is developing its Skyshield air defense system for protection against missiles and rockets. The development is focused on an interceptor...
- Military Toy Roundup 10/28/06
U.S. to examine laser system for destroying short-range missiles Israel developing rocket interceptor New US Airborne Laser WASHINGTON — The U.S. government plans to evaluate a laser-based anti-missile system. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security...
- And In Today's Mensa "duh" Of The Day Headline...
AIR DEFENSE: Now Israel Wants Laser Defense August 15, 2006: Israel is working with the U.S. government to see if it could revive it's participation in the laser anti-missile system (THEL, or "Tactical High Energy Laser"). Israel dropped out of the...
- Galactic Stupidity Persists..ready For The Last War, Always
We are seeing the tactics of the coming war against the United States from within the Untied States. How EASY would it be to smuggle speedboats laden with 6 and 9 foot katyushas, 3 to 5 inches across into the USA? How easy to put them into 1/2 ton pickups...