HELLADS laser for fighter aircraft!

The High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System (hellads) is a project to develop a 150kW laser for fitting onto fighter aircraft by the end of 2007.

www.darpa.mil...

Sounds like a great project. That means that incoming missiles could probably be shot down.

EDIT: How about something like this, or even two on an aircraft like the USAF B-2A spirit? What an awsome way to counter long range SAMS!

[edit on 10-4-2007 by BlackWidow23]

check out what I found on -NewscientistTech- Looks like something is going to happen.

I thought that the lasers were going to be put on a plane like a E-767?

The ABM is on a 747. It's designed to destroy ICBMs in the launch phase. This is a shorter ranged system designed to destroy A2A missiles, or even other fighters.

As Zaph said, the laser on the modified 747 is for destroying ICBM's in the boost/ascent phase and that laser is in the megawatt class and has a rage of several hundred miles. This is a more of a tactical laser (150 kw) meant to destroy smaller systems at closer ranges. Lasers of this type are also being explored for use on ships, ground vehicles, fighters and other combat aircraft.

Like I mentioned on the other post, "Is it possible to make a nuclear missle stealth?", Would the 747 be able to detect the ICBM if it is stealth?

What do you mean by "stealth"? Currently you cannot launch an ICBM without putting others on notice. DSP satellites and the YAL-1 have infared sensors that detect the infrared light emitted from the intense heat generated by an ICBM launch plume. So unless you figure out a way to achieve flight without combustion the answer is no.

Well, I started a thread a week ago, "is it possible to make a missle stealth?", that talks about that.

I found some pictures of HELLADS. So this is what theyre supposed to look like? I still fail to see how they will be able to get something like this on a compact JSF or F22.

Also that C130 with the laser on it, would this replace the C130 gun ship in the future?

On the show Future Weapons, they did a special on furtureistic weapons. One of the weapons was one of the lasers on a 747.

Originally posted by semperfoo
I still fail to see how they will be able to get something like this on a compact JSF or F22.

It depends on the design and size of the laser. For example both the F-35 and F-22 have fairly large internal wepaons bays with space to carry several tons of weapons, or weight. Also, the F-35A has extra space where the F-35B has the lift fan (or you could just remove the lift fan on the F-35B), just aft of the canopy, this space is filled with fuel in the F-35C. Still in either case even with the most (currently envisioned) compact laser (1,000 - 2,000 pounds) the airframe would have to be modified. This may prove to be impractical (design and cost wise) or just counter productive (reduced flight performances). But given that technology is progressing I would not rule out a future small (yet powerful) laser system being fielded in these jets.

None of the considerations I listed above concern the AC-130, V-22, naval ships, ground vehicles or other large military aircraft. They can easily accommodate such a compact and tactical system.

Originally posted by semperfoo
Also that C130 with the laser on it, would this replace the C130 gun ship in the future?

Perhaps, currently though it would just add another weapon to the arsenal of the improved AC-130 Spooky fleet. However in the future a purpose built UCAV with DEW's taken into consideration from conception might just replace the AC-130. A fairly large UCAV could have multiple such systems built into it...

[edit on 17-4-2007 by WestPoint23]

I've seen a documentary with this mounted on an F-35. I believe its the variant of JSF that is capable of vertical take-off. I'll try to find the clip and post it.

Originally posted by WestPoint23

Originally posted by semperfoo
I still fail to see how they will be able to get something like this on a compact JSF or F22.

It depends on the design and size of the laser. For example both the F-35 and F-22 have fairly large internal wepaons bays with space to carry several tons of weapons, or weight. Also, the F-35A has extra space where the F-35B has the lift fan (or you could just remove the lift fan on the F-35B), just aft of the canopy, this space is filled with fuel in the F-35C. Still in either case even with the most (currently envisioned) compact laser (1,000 - 2,000 pounds) the airframe would have to be modified. This may prove to be impractical (design and cost wise) or just counter productive (reduced flight performances). But given that technology is progressing I would not rule out a future small (yet powerful) laser system being fielded in these jets.

None of the considerations I listed above concern the AC-130, V-22, naval ships, ground vehicles or other large military aircraft. They can easily accommodate such a compact and tactical system.

This technology seems to me to be incredible. And if it actually works then SAMS just became obsolete. And fielding this technology at the end of 2007 no less is amazing. They must want this technology fielded ASAP (why wouldnt they). Im digging it. thanks for the info man.

Perhaps, currently though it would just add another weapon to the arsenal of the improved AC-130 Spooky fleet. However in the future a purpose built UCAV with DEW's taken into consideration from conception might just replace the AC-130. A fairly large UCAV could have multiple such systems built into it...

Yea Ive heard that they're talking about possibly being able to put this on a UAV, which will be amazing. Star wars isnt so far fetched after all..

While putting it on tactical fighters would be incredible, the real use for it is probably nighttime bombing. Putting this on the B-1, the B-52 and especially the B-2 would make them a lot harder to shoot down. They would even have an offensive anti air cabability. With the B-2s stealth and lowered acoustic signature....wow...its engines could provide more than enough power. Maybe one for each engine....

I started a thread a while back, and it is about the better bomber, the B-52 and the B-2. "Which is the better bomber?" It talks about the potential for the B-2 and the B-52. Take a look at it sometime.

Here's an interesting short video about the ABL I came across the other day.

gizmodo.com...

reply to post by galm 1


Im more interested in its range, are we talking about the equivalent of a CIWS or something with a range of a few miles?

reply to post by Atomic_Feline


To appropriately affect an incoming SAM, the defensive systems in question would need to be able to intercept/destroy the airborne threat at a safe distance from the point.

From my understand many SAMs travel at mach 2.0 speeds+ so to address the broad spectrum of SAMs that exist, the range on the system would need to be significant, possibly 25-50+ miles. But I'm no expert, that's just my guess.

Shattered OUT...

Originally posted by Zaphod58
The ABM is on a 747. It's designed to destroy ICBMs in the launch phase. This is a shorter ranged system designed to destroy A2A missiles, or even other fighters.

incorrect...
its meant mainly to destroy TBM's , not ICBM's , though it could be modifed to destroy thinn skinned liquid fueled ICBM like ss-11 in late future(2015-2020)

While designed mainly for use against tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs), which are shorter ranged and move slower than ICBMs, the ABL has more recently been considered for possible use against ICBMs during their boost phase. This would be more challenging since the longer range of ICBMs would limit the ability of the ABL to reach them. By contrast, tactical ballistic missiles are fired from closer range; hence, the ABL could more easily intercept them without overflying hostile territory. However, some liquid fueled ICBMs have thinner skins than TBMs, so they would be easier to damage
en.wikipedia.org...

and ABL's test against a TBM will take place in 2009 ....

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee fully funded the Missile Defense Agency’s Airborne Laser (ABL) for 2008, likely keeping the program on track for a critical test in 2009 in which the modified Boe¬ing 747 aircraft will attempt to shoot down a target missile
www.defensenews.com...

the program has been delayed ...

Originally scheduled for operation by 2008, due to development difficulties the program was "rescoped". The current plan calls for a prototype ABL to attempt shoot down of a test missile in 2009,[2] delaying the final production design until after this test
en.wikipedia.org...

i know nothing about how this stuff works, but does anyone have a basic idea where they are going to get the energy to fire laser shots off a small fighter jet? I would guess off the top of my head they would be loaded with sophisticated batteries that give each jet a specific amount of shots before a recharge would be necessary.

This stuff is truly amazing. The move to laser warfare is slow starting.