Im Rahmen des „Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) Advanced Concept
Technology Demonstration (ACTD)“-Programms testete Boeing jüngst
einen hoch energetischen Laser, der auch mittels Flugzeugen auf
Bodenziele abgefeuert werden kann und in Zukunft die Kriegsführung
effizienter gestalten soll.
Dieser wurde zu aller erst am 21. September dieses Jahres abgefeuert –
damals jedoch vom Boden aus. Nach aktuell weiter laufenden Tests soll
der hoch energetische chemische Laser jedoch auch aus der Luft
abgefeuert werden. Zu diesem Zweck wird derzeit eine C-130H der
amerikanischen Luftwaffe umgerüstet. Für den Test notwendig sind
Leitsysteme, eine Steuereinheit, die auch hochaufgelöste Bilder des
Einsatzgebietes zur Zielbestimmung liefert, sowie Sensoren. Aus der Luft
wird dann testweise im nächsten Jahr geschossen, der Geschützturm soll
sich dann an der Unterseite des Flugzeuges befinden, in die eine 50-Zoll
große Aussparung geschnitten wurde.
"ATL will destroy, damage or disable targets with little to no collateral
damage, supporting missions on the battlefield and in urban operations.
ATL will produce scaleable effects, meaning the weapon operator will be
able to select the degree and nature of the damage done to a target by
choosing a specific aimpoint and laser shot duration. For example,
targeting the fuel tank of a vehicle could result in total destruction of the
vehicle, while targeting a tire might result in the vehicle stopping without
injury to the driver."
Sollte der Laser dann für militärische Zwecke eingesetzt werden, so lägen
seine Vorteile in der Geschwindigkeit und Präzision eines Schusses. Auch
eine gewisse Dosierbarkeit des Laser-Strahls soll gegeben sein, da der
Schütze Dauer und Intensität des Laser bestimmen kann. Beworben wird
der taktische Laser somit als zielgenaue und schnelle Waffe, die zudem
den Kollateralschaden verringern können soll, da Ziele direkt und präzise
getroffen werden könnten. Außerdem könne die Wahl des exakten Ziels
dazu führen, dass das Zielobjekt nur gestoppt oder behindert werden
würde statt zerstört zu werden.
Quelle: ComputerBase
Boeing testet hochenergetische Laser-Waffe
Boeing testet hochenergetische Laser-Waffe
---TML---
Weisheit wird dargeboten am einsamen Markt, wo keiner kauft,
und gefunden auf dürrem Acker, wo der Landmann vergebens den Pflug zieht.
Weisheit wird dargeboten am einsamen Markt, wo keiner kauft,
und gefunden auf dürrem Acker, wo der Landmann vergebens den Pflug zieht.
Mehr zum Thema:
Boeing's Advanced Tactical Laser to take out ground targets
While ground-based lasers might provide some semblance of security,
what any science fiction fan really wants is aircraft-mounted lasers to take
out evildoers whilst patrolling the skies. Fortunately for the American
military, that day may come sooner than one might think. Late last week,
Boeing announced the "first light" of its "high-energy chemical laser in
ground tests, achieving two key milestones in the laser gunship
development effort." In other words, the new "Advanced Tactical Laser"
can pretty much take out anything on the ground (and we assume
eventually in the sky as well). The best part? The laser is
scalable, "meaning the weapon operator will be able to select the degree
and nature of the damage done to a target by choosing a specific aimpoint
and laser shot duration. For example, targeting the fuel tank of a vehicle
could result in total destruction of the vehicle, while targeting a tire might
result in the vehicle stopping without injury to the driver." Now that's
freakin' sweet.
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 13, 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has begun
flight testing for the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) Advanced Concept
Technology Demonstration (ACTD) program and has generated "first light"
of ATL's high-energy chemical laser in ground tests, achieving two key
milestones in the laser gunship development effort.
During the "low-power" flight tests, which began Oct. 10 and conclude this
fall, the ATL ACTD system will find and track ground targets at White
Sands Missile Range, N.M. A low-power, solid-state laser will serve as a
surrogate for ATL's high-power chemical laser.
To prepare for the tests, the ATL aircraft, a C-130H from the U.S. Air
Force 46th Test Wing, was outfitted with flight demonstration hardware at
Crestview Aerospace Corp. in Crestview, Fla. The hardware includes the
beam director and optical control bench, which will direct the laser beam
to its target; weapon system consoles, which will display high-resolution
imagery and enable the tracking of targets; and sensors.
Boeing fired the high-energy chemical laser for the first time in ground
tests on Sept. 21 in Albuquerque, N.M. -- an achievement known as "first
light." Ground tests of the laser will conclude this fall. By 2007, Boeing will
install the device on the aircraft and fire it in-flight at mission-
representative ground targets to demonstrate the military utility of high
energy-lasers. The test team will fire the laser through a rotating turret
that extends through an existing 50-inch-diameter hole in the aircraft's
belly.
"ATL will transform the battlefield by giving the warfighter a speed-of-light,
precision engagement capability that will reduce collateral damage
dramatically," said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager of
Boeing Missile Defense Systems. "The start of flight and laser testing
shows that Boeing is making solid progress toward making this
revolutionary capability a reality."
Boeing is developing ATL for the U.S. Department of Defense through an
ACTD program.
ATL will destroy, damage or disable targets with little to no collateral
damage, supporting missions on the battlefield and in urban operations.
ATL will produce scaleable effects, meaning the weapon operator will be
able to select the degree and nature of the damage done to a target by
choosing a specific aimpoint and laser shot duration. For example,
targeting the fuel tank of a vehicle could result in total destruction of the
vehicle, while targeting a tire might result in the vehicle stopping without
injury to the driver.
Boeing's Advanced Tactical Laser industry team includes L-3
Communications/Brashear, which made the laser turret, and HYTEC, Inc.,
which made various structural elements of the weapon system.
Quelle: Boeing
Boeing's Advanced Tactical Laser to take out ground targets
While ground-based lasers might provide some semblance of security,
what any science fiction fan really wants is aircraft-mounted lasers to take
out evildoers whilst patrolling the skies. Fortunately for the American
military, that day may come sooner than one might think. Late last week,
Boeing announced the "first light" of its "high-energy chemical laser in
ground tests, achieving two key milestones in the laser gunship
development effort." In other words, the new "Advanced Tactical Laser"
can pretty much take out anything on the ground (and we assume
eventually in the sky as well). The best part? The laser is
scalable, "meaning the weapon operator will be able to select the degree
and nature of the damage done to a target by choosing a specific aimpoint
and laser shot duration. For example, targeting the fuel tank of a vehicle
could result in total destruction of the vehicle, while targeting a tire might
result in the vehicle stopping without injury to the driver." Now that's
freakin' sweet.
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 13, 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has begun
flight testing for the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) Advanced Concept
Technology Demonstration (ACTD) program and has generated "first light"
of ATL's high-energy chemical laser in ground tests, achieving two key
milestones in the laser gunship development effort.
During the "low-power" flight tests, which began Oct. 10 and conclude this
fall, the ATL ACTD system will find and track ground targets at White
Sands Missile Range, N.M. A low-power, solid-state laser will serve as a
surrogate for ATL's high-power chemical laser.
To prepare for the tests, the ATL aircraft, a C-130H from the U.S. Air
Force 46th Test Wing, was outfitted with flight demonstration hardware at
Crestview Aerospace Corp. in Crestview, Fla. The hardware includes the
beam director and optical control bench, which will direct the laser beam
to its target; weapon system consoles, which will display high-resolution
imagery and enable the tracking of targets; and sensors.
Boeing fired the high-energy chemical laser for the first time in ground
tests on Sept. 21 in Albuquerque, N.M. -- an achievement known as "first
light." Ground tests of the laser will conclude this fall. By 2007, Boeing will
install the device on the aircraft and fire it in-flight at mission-
representative ground targets to demonstrate the military utility of high
energy-lasers. The test team will fire the laser through a rotating turret
that extends through an existing 50-inch-diameter hole in the aircraft's
belly.
"ATL will transform the battlefield by giving the warfighter a speed-of-light,
precision engagement capability that will reduce collateral damage
dramatically," said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager of
Boeing Missile Defense Systems. "The start of flight and laser testing
shows that Boeing is making solid progress toward making this
revolutionary capability a reality."
Boeing is developing ATL for the U.S. Department of Defense through an
ACTD program.
ATL will destroy, damage or disable targets with little to no collateral
damage, supporting missions on the battlefield and in urban operations.
ATL will produce scaleable effects, meaning the weapon operator will be
able to select the degree and nature of the damage done to a target by
choosing a specific aimpoint and laser shot duration. For example,
targeting the fuel tank of a vehicle could result in total destruction of the
vehicle, while targeting a tire might result in the vehicle stopping without
injury to the driver.
Boeing's Advanced Tactical Laser industry team includes L-3
Communications/Brashear, which made the laser turret, and HYTEC, Inc.,
which made various structural elements of the weapon system.
Quelle: Boeing
---TML---
Weisheit wird dargeboten am einsamen Markt, wo keiner kauft,
und gefunden auf dürrem Acker, wo der Landmann vergebens den Pflug zieht.
Weisheit wird dargeboten am einsamen Markt, wo keiner kauft,
und gefunden auf dürrem Acker, wo der Landmann vergebens den Pflug zieht.