Blowing up rockets using lasers?

Apparently Israel, with the latest problems between them and Lebanon, have decided to revive the Nautilus project which has as its goal the ability to shoot down rockets using lasers.

Begun in 1996 by Israel and the US, the Nautilus project was meant to counter Hizbullah’s 122 mm Katyusha rocket attacks. TRW (now Northrop Grumman Space Technology) was awarded a contract to develop the THEL: a chemical laser gun designed to intercept short-range rockets and mortar bombs. However, despite several successful tests, and although Israel has since been under repeated attack by rockets from Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, Israel and the US decided to abandon the THEL development in January.

The THEL program is being revived. Look for really powerful lasers near you soon.


.

Published by

Michael Harrison

Husband, Programmer, Irish dancer, tinkerer, astronomer, layabout (as much as possible)

Leave a Reply