From: "Rich Gauszka" 

To terminate development due to "technical difficulties" seems a
bit asinine to me. To quote from the article

'The real tragedy is that the THEL works. At the White Sands Missile Range,
THEL intercepted Katyusha rockets 46 times, as well as artillery and mortar
projectiles, in single, multiple, and surprise engagements. The basic
technology is proven and has been in development for 20 years.'


"Monte Davis"  wrote in message
news:7otmd293cct0j6k04qsiug9ph1i924eadt{at}4ax.com...
> "Rich Gauszka"  wrote:
>
>>Through 9/11, the THEL demonstrator detected, tracked and shot down 28
>>Katyusha rockets.  The MTHEL Test Bed, through changes to its acquisition
>>and tracking software, also successfully hit five artillery projectiles in
>>flight.  "We've just turned science-fiction into
reality," an Army general
>>said...
>
> THEL hardware is sitting in a warehouse, among other reasons because
> field commanders -- US as well as IDF -- have a weak-kneed,
> lily-livered, Islamofascist-appeasing reluctance to operate in a
> target zone with six (count 'em six) schoolbus-sized vehicles, four of
> which are filled with pressurized, volatile, toxic and/or corrosive
> substances. As it's a point-defense system, you would *by definition*
> be in a target zone.
>
> Energy storage density and high power-handling needs have always been
> the stumbling blocks for kewl light sabers, from THEL to the USAF's
> missile-zapping plane to orbital battle stations. They all really
> demand a hyperultrasuperduper battery. That, of course, would
> revolutionize many technologies; it has been and is being sought far
> beyond defense applications.
>
> That doesn't preclude this choice sample of mututal pimpery, by a
> long-time champion of directed energy weapons, for an organ of both
> the go-Israel-go! and go-miltech-go! camps:
>
> http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=16135
>
>
>

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