July 13, 2006

Airport Missile Shield

Via Slashdot, Northrop is developing a laser shield "bubble" to protect airports from attack.

Northrop described Skyguard as capable of destroying rockets, mortars, artillery shells, unmanned aerial vehicles, short-range ballistic missiles, as well as cruise missiles. Against shoulder-fired missiles, which are relatively easy to heat with a laser and destroy, the protective shield would extend to a 20-kilometer radius, Wildt said...

Skyguard grew out of the Tactical High Energy Laser, or THEL, designed to shield Israel's northern communities from Katyusha rockets and artillery shells.

Initial versions will be ready in 18 months. Northrop sees a big market in the US, Israel, Taiwan and other countries.

This would have sounded like science fiction 10 years ago. Other systems are also in development.

By at 07:27 AM | |