The U.S. Armys Tactical High Energy Laser/Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrator (THEL/ACTD) beam director is shown in this undated photo during tests at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Weapons such as this, that travel far faster than the proverbial speeding bullet, are as little as five years from use in combat, say defense officials. In a first-of-its-kind feat, the Army used the high-energy laser built by TRW Inc. to heat the shell, fired from a howitzer at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, and cause it to explode in flight. The shell, moving at approximately 1,000 mph, was tracked by radar and heat-sensing infrared sensors, and then locked onto and zapped by the laser beam traveling at light speed. (AP Photo/HO, TRW, Inc.)

Location

, New Mexico United States

Creation Date

11/08/2002 13:23:00

Submit Date

11/08/2002 13:38:29

Credit

Associated Press TRW INC

Slug

Object Name

LASER WEAPONS

Photographer

Handout

Caption Writer

JF KDJ RS TRW

Special Instructions

UNDATED PHOTO FROM WEBSITE

Negative Number

Image Number

6509111 (00713)

Trans reference Number

LA101