[With film] Northrop-Built High-Energy Laser Destroys Large-Caliber Rocket
in Test

(Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.; issued May 6, 2004)
[With thanks to www.defense-aerospace.com ]

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. --- The U.S. Army's Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser
(MTHEL) test bed destroyed a rocket on May 4 that's larger, faster and that
flies higher than previous threats destroyed by the laser weapon
demonstrator.

Northrop Grumman Corporation built the demonstrator for the Army and the
Israel Ministry of Defence (IMoD).

Tuesday's successful intercept and destruction of the large-caliber rocket
carrying a live warhead took place at 12:45 p.m. MDT during a live-fire test
of the MTHEL test-bed at the Army's White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

The large-caliber rocket is capable of twice the range, achieves more than
three times the altitude, and carries a much larger warhead than previous
targets. Many countries already possess large-caliber rockets. The destroyed
rocket is representative of threats faced by U.S. and Israeli forces.

"The destruction of a new threat type once again demonstrates the capability
of the MTHEL test-bed," said Wes Bush, president of Northrop Grumman's Space
Technology sector. "We are excited about the historic accomplishments and we
are fully prepared to move to the next stage of building the MTHEL
prototype."

The rocket shot down is faster and has more mass than Katyusha rockets the
MTHEL test-bed has destroyed since testing began in 2000.

A more compact, mobile and easily transportable THEL, the MTHEL prototype
will give the Army its first deployable laser weapon system. Northrop
Grumman began work on the existing test-bed in 1996 when it was called the
THEL/Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrator (ACTD).

MTHEL will be the first tactical and mobile, directed-energy weapon capable
of shooting down rockets and other tactical targets in flight to protect
deployed forces and civilians of the U.S. and its friends and allies.

The existing MTHEL test-bed was designed, developed and produced by a
Northrop Grumman-led team of U.S. and Israeli contractors for the U.S. Space
& Missile Defense Command, Huntsville, Ala., and for IMoD. In addition to
Northrop Grumman's Space Technology and Mission Systems sectors, U.S.
companies involved in testbed development are Ball Aerospace, Boulder,
Colo., and Brashear LP, Pittsburgh, Pa. Israeli companies that supported
THEL ACTD development are Electro-Optic Industries, Ltd., Rehovat; Israel
Aircraft Industries, Ltd., Yehud Industrial Zone; RAFAEL, Haifa; and
Tadiran, Holon.

In testing to date, the MTHEL test-bed has destroyed 28 Katyusha rockets and
five artillery shells in flight.

Northrop Grumman Space Technology, based in Redondo Beach, Calif., develops
a broad range of systems at the leading edge of space, defense and
electronics technology. The sector creates products for U.S. military and
civilian customers that contribute to the nation's security and leadership
in science and technology. (ends)

Click www.st.northropgrumman.com/media/VideoInfo.cfm?VideoID=18# to see
videos of previous trials of the MTHEL prototype against Katyusha rockets,
on the Northrop Grumman website (several formats available)