THE US DEPARTMENT of Defense (DoD) has awarded TRW a $22 million contract to continue development of the Nautilus tactical high-energy laser (THEL) which could be used to counter Russian Katyusha rockets.
The US defence firm can expect to earn a further $89 million in development and testing of a THEL demonstrator. The anti-rocket weapon under development by TRW downed rockets in a test at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico earlier this year. The Katyusha rockets used in the test were provided by Israel. The USA and Israel are sharing the cost of Nautilus research and development. It will be available for tests in Israel by the end of 1997. The two are studying providing an interim capability for Katyusha defence.
Source: Flight International