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Tactical High Energy Laser Beam Director Photo 2

Northrop Grumman, prime contractor for the U.S. Army's Tactical High Energy Laser/Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrator (THEL/ACTD) program, has successfully completed integration and functional testing of the first THEL/ACTD fire unit at the Army's High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF), White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The THEL/ACTD beam director, shown in the photo, is the key optical component of the THEL/ACTD pointer tracker subsystem. It is used to direct the THEL/ACTD high-energy laser beam to its target. Northrop Grumman leads a team of U.S. and Israeli contractors that is developing THEL/ACTD for the U.S. Army Space & Missile Defense Command, Huntsville, Ala. The laser-based air defense system is designed to protect civilians and military assets against attack by short-range terrorist threats such as Katyusha rockets.