A
weapon that uses a
laser to actually damage the target. Current
laser weapons research focuses on using
chemical lasers to destroy
missiles or
artillery shells. This is because current generations of
lasers are heavy and
bulky in the power ranges required.
TRW (www.trw.com) is currently building two laser weapons systems for the US Military. It has also built large chemical lasers in the past, including MIRACL and Alpha
The THEL (Tactical High Energy Laser), is a ground-based system designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells and other short-range aerial threats. It is being developed in conjunction with Israel.
The ABL (Airborne Laser) is a more ambitious program targeted at short to medium range ballistic missiles. It consists of a multi-megawatt chemical laser called COIL (Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser) mounted in a Boeing 747. The aircraft's nose contains an optical turret to direct the beam. Anticipated range is hundreds of miles, in order to hit ballistic missiles during their boost phase. More information is available from http://www.airbornelaser.com/.