DoDBuzz: Boeing Tests IED Blasting Laser

[unhappycamper]

Boeing Tests IED Blasting Laser
By Greg Grant Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 1:07 pm
Posted in Land

Some defense thinkers believe directed energy weapons, lasers, hold out real battlefield promise, particularly against future enemies armed with large numbers of relatively cheap precision guided weapons. For example, the folks at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington say lasers provide a potential solution to the so called G-RAMM (guided rockets, artillery, mortars and missiles) problem. Using missiles to shoot down incoming rounds can get very costly and a counter G-RAMM arsenal can be rapidly depleted; lasers solve the finite counter-munition arsenal problem.

Granted, directed energy weapons are not ready for prime time, although they are getting closer. Boeing has been developing a laser system mounted on the Avenger vehicle, an air defense version of the ubiquitous Humvee; in stock form, the Avenger comes with Stinger missiles and a .50 cal machine gun. In tests over the last couple of years, the Laser Avenger has shot down a couple of small aerial drones.

In September, Boeing says Laser Avenger destroyed 50 IEDs in tests sponsored by the Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. The IEDs included large-caliber artillery munitions and smaller bomblets and mortar rounds, according to Boeing, and the laser fired at the rounds from different ranges and angles.

I asked Boeing spokesperson Marc Selinger how it works. The targeted munitions are destroyed by heating, resulting in a low-yield detonation, he said. The targeted round doesn’t detonate with its full force, instead it “pops” or “fizzles” out, rendering it safe. I asked him how long it takes for the laser beam to destroy its target. Depending on the target munition type, seconds or single-digit minutes, he said. Also, and importantly, the laser provides a near limitless arsenal.

Now here is why this is potentially a really big deal. IEDs are far and away the biggest killer of U.S. troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan. For anybody who has spent time on patrol in either locale, they know how incredibly time consuming it can be every time a suspected IED is spotted. Standard procedure is to back off to a safe distance and call in the Explosive Ordinance Disposal team. Problem is, there aren’t enough EOD teams to accompany all patrols; their skills are truly at a premium.


Rest of article at: http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/12/03/boeing-tests-ied-blasting-laser/?wh=wh

[derby378]

1. Wouldn't it just be cheaper to train more EOD snipers?

From what I understand, EOD techs usually dispose of an IED by shooting it from a safe distance with an M107 (a .50-caliber sniper rifle manufactured by Barrett). The gun costs approximately $10,000 last I heard. How would the purchase of a dozen of these, combined with the training of EOD snipers, compare with the purchase and deployment of one Boeing anti-IED laser?

[unhappycamper]

2. Better yet, are they going to mount them on Hummers?

See the pic in the article.