High Energy Laser Destroys Mortars in Flight

Boeing’s High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator (HEL MD) team has used a solid state laser to destroy mortars and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). A laser destroys targets with pinpoint precision within seconds of acquisition, then acquires the next target and keeps firing. In recent demonstrations, HEL MD used a 10-kilowatt, High Energy Laser installed on an Oshkosh Tactical Military Vehicle. The demonstrator is the first mobile, High Energy Laser, Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) platform to be built and demonstrated by the U.S. Army. Boeing is demonstrating that directed energy technologies can augment existing kinetic strike weapons and offer a significant reduction in cost per engagement. With only the cost of diesel fuel, the laser system can fire repeatedly without expending valuable munitions or additional manpower. Boeing engineers talk about the effects directed energy systems have against mortars in this video. By Alex Wilson and Queena Jones.