MILNET Brief
  THEL, Updated, 3/10/2007

The following list compiles references on MILNET as well as a few external links to the Tactical High Energy Laser development program.

THEL began as a concept program under the DoD ACTD (Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrator) program which allows the Pentagon to define technologies needed and Contractors to apply off-the-shelf solutions to jump-start rapid-pace technology programs.  Military ruggedization and mission hardening then takes place at a later stage in the development cycle.

THEL was a prime example of the ACTD program.  It began with contractors taking off the shelf components to demonstrate various pieces of the system -- aiming, tracking, and sensing of atmospheric conditions, while new technology advances in high energy lasers waned. Within a decade however, the high energy lasers began to emerge that could power such a device, well within the timeframe needed to provide for a demonstratable weapon system.

Today, THEL appears to be the basis both in research as well as in fieldable systems for a number of different follow on concepts -- thus its importance to the high energy laser programs of the future.

Item
When
Where
MILNET Brief:  New Weapons
March 2007
MILNET
MILNET Brief:  Beam Weapons
03/02/2007
MILNET
Document
When
Where
Laser Weapons Are Getting Closer To Reality,
03/02/2007 Sander Research
Lasers Go To War
01/25/07 David Lichner, NEWS11AZ
Joint High Power Solid-State Laser (THEL Follow-On)
2006
Grumman Aerospace
MILNET Brief: Weapons for 2025
2/10/2005
MILNET
Document
When
Where
Electronic Warfare/Directed Energy Weapons
undated
FAS
AF Vision 2025 White Papers, Directed Energy Weapons
undated
Naval Postgraduate School
Directed Energy Weapons:  A Bibliography
undated
Naval Postgraduate School
Boost Phase, Directed Energy Program undated
U.S. BMDO/MDA
The Next Generation of Weapons
8/04/2006 James J. Carafano, Andrew Berman,
Fox News
E-Weapons: Directed Energy Warfare in the 21st Century
1/11/2006 Leonard Davis, Space.com
DOD Laser Master Plan (MILNET Mirror) (PDF 347KB)
3/24/2000 DoD
Laser Weapons in Space: A Critical Assessment . April 1998 Lt. Col. William H. Possel,
USAF Air War College Paper
MILNET Brief:  Space Based Weapons, FY 2000
2000
MILNET
1998 ACTD Entry Form
1988
DoD
Miracl - THEL Prototype
1997
DoD
ACTD Progress Report, FY96 Programs
1997
DoD-ACTD
Through the Looking Glass, Global Area Strike System,  (MILNET Mirror), (PDF 766KB) 1996
Air University White Paper Vision 2025




© Copyright 2007, Michael G. Crawford for MILNET