Lasers to counter mortar rounds.

[Nilsen]

Northrop unveils laser to counter mortar attacks.

http://www.janes.com/defence/news/jdw/jdw041101_1_n.shtml

next on your list of gizmos lazs2 ?

[Chairboy]

For a laser system to shoot mortars, it seems like you need to solve some tricky problems and create lots of new technology:

1. Aiming
2. Battlefield portable and maintainable laser
3. Portable power supply for battlefield laser
4. Train new disciplines for handling and repairing the lasers

Why not design an interim system that has fewer problems to solve up front so you can deploy sooner but keep working towards a whiz bang solution in the future when it's cheaper?

For example, if they replaced the laser with a rifle, they could cut out #2, #3 and #4.  Use the same aiming technology, calculate for leading, and have a automated sentry rifle fire three round bursts at incoming rounds to detonate them at altitude.  A laser system would eventually outperform a rifle based system, sure, but by making the mortar defense incremental, you can reduce the lead time to getting a working system out in the field.

Advantages:
1. Faster deployment
2. Less training needed
3. The technology can be applied to future systems
4. Results in hand demonstrating the soundness of the aiming technology would make it easier to continue getting funding versus a 10 year program that has to multiple administrations.

[JB73]

Originally posted by Chairboy
Use the same aiming technology,.

the lazer travels at what? i dont know the speed of light, but i know it is a hullava lot faster than any projectile we have or probably ever will...

that being said, the aiming for an instant shot would be way different than the huge lead needed for a bullett to actually get to the target before it impacts, basically talking about aiming right as the mortor is shot. chasing a bullett with a bullett if you will

[Chairboy]

Sure, but that's just a lead calculation solution, the same type modern tanks solve every shot.  The hard stuff would be radar tracking, moving servos to take aim, etc.  

The difference between a laser aiming solution and a rifle aiming solution is time to target.

[JB73]

well my point is (i was intrupted at work typing before) how long is a mortar really in the air?

would something be able to find it, track it, project it's path, aim at it, and still have enough time for a bullett to catch it? lets say it takes 1 second for a bullet to actually leave the barrel and hit the target how far did that mortar travel in that 1 second? is the lead you are giving with the bullet too late, and the mortat has hit the ground?

[Murdr]

Hmm, interesting.  That's quite a jump from current mortar counter-measures.  Which is to catch the round entering and re-entering a radar layer and plotting the source.  Then shelling the source.  

Average hang time for a indirect (non line of sight) fire is about 25-35 seconds from "round out" to "splash, over".  I wonder how long a lazer contact needs to be to transfer enough heat to several pounds of steel to destablize either the fuse or the charge.

I used to be a mortar gunner btw.

Just to clearify Id assume at least 20 seconds of a round being above horizon enough to track with radar.

[ra]

"Lasers"