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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Wired: Israelis Sue Government for Laser Cannons - Sderot wants THEL
2008-03-13
Posted by:3dc

#14  ION WND > JOSEPH FARAH'S G2 BULLETIN > ISRAEL IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF A SUMMER WAR - BRIT INTEL SAYS IRAN PREPARING HAMAS FIGHTERS. Article - alleges that HAMAS' OFFENSIVE WHEN IT COMES WILL WORK IN COORDINATION WID THE HEZZIES [Hizzies? Huzzies?]
???
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2008-03-13 23:55  

#13  I like the idea of a FireFinder and a collection of heavy artillery. The counter battery fire need not be particularly accurate, since the people firing the rockets will probably shoot and scoot, so blowing up the launch point won't really do any good - just blow up an empty field or a neighborhood.
So maybe what they should do is pre-aim the artillery at selected targets - say a Hamas headquarters, or police station.Announce all of the targets, but not which ones are on today's list. So, when the FireFinder detects a launch, the target of the day is destroyed. If the Israelis pick a lot of targets, the Paleos can't evacuate all of them ahead of time.
Posted by: Rambler in California   2008-03-13 21:53  

#12  Two kinds of high energy lasers have been tested for ground-based defense against rockets, artillery and mortars (RAM).

The Tactical HEL/Nautilus is chemically based not powered off an electric source. It's more effective, faster and puts more energy on the target than alternatives, but it's also bigger and the logistic issues associated with the chemical power source (including shipping the stuff and then disposing of the toxic containers afterwards) are significant.

Note: less powerful HELs with direct electric inputs have also been tested against RAM. They are ... less powerful when dealing with short and mid-range attacks. Require longer time on target because the amount of energy transferred per sec is lower. That also means the radar tracking and lockon must be very very accurate and must persist longer than with the THEL. Well suited for airborne and other platforms, less useful against short-range attacks.

DOD has done some extensive modelling of the interactions between various laser beams and every atmospheric condition you might imagine, BTW....

The article seems to say that the plaintiffs want the Nautilus chemical THEL to be located in Sderot. Which tells me this has a lot more to do with putting political pressure on the govt to do SOMETHING than with a serious defense proposal.
Posted by: lotp   2008-03-13 20:21  

#11  "Sharks with friken lasers on their heads", or a Phalanx system.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2008-03-13 19:51  

#10  they should cut off the Gaza power (I know - I'm a one-track-mind) but use that power for the Laser
Posted by: Frank G   2008-03-13 19:36  

#9  What about the gentleman who made his own Patriot missile?
Posted by: trailing wife    2008-03-13 19:20  

#8  Sounds like there are many perfectly effectively solutions to the problem of the rocket attacks on Sderot. Pick one - but pick SOMETHING!
Posted by: Glenmore   2008-03-13 17:46  

#7  Or they could just turn off the water and the electricity and let nature take its course.
Posted by: Excalibur   2008-03-13 17:05  

#6  How about 200 Tanks, 2 divisions of troops and un-restricted response to the the attacking territory?
Posted by: jds   2008-03-13 16:13  

#5  I was also thinking of a radar guided gun firing larger shells than the 20mm, say a 35-57mm gun. these are also more or less available off the shelf or with a minimum of work.

(Or maybe a system based around the "starstreak" missile).
Posted by: Abdominal Snowman   2008-03-13 14:06  

#4  You ever heard one of those C-RAM go off?

Get the lasers, less BRZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ more pewpew

Not to mention the THEL supposedly had a more rapid re-engage cycle time.

Still, a 155 battery and FireFinder would probably be somewhat effective.

Posted by: OldSpook   2008-03-13 13:58  

#3  Maybe the residents of Sderot should dig their own tunnels and smuggle in their own arms to launch at the Paleos.
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2008-03-13 13:30  

#2  A 120mm mortar and all the surplus ammo you can fire would be much more effective.
Posted by: Glatle Squank2096   2008-03-13 13:18  

#1  Right idea, wrong weapon. They should demand a Phalanx CIWS C-RAM with airburst 20mm rounds. It is available now, off the rack, and highly effective against anything the Paleos could throw.

The gun itself costs about $2M each. With say, 200,000 rounds, Sderot would be safe for a year or two. More likely, it would just stop being a target.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2008-03-13 12:44  

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