THEL/ACTD (Advanced Concept Technology
Demonstrator) is a ground-based, short-range air
defense system that is being developed by Northrop
Grumman for the
U.S. Army and the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMoD). L-3
Brashear played a key role in the THEL/ACTD, producing
the pointer/tracker's beam director unit that focuses
the high energy laser beam and keeps it accurately
pointed at the rocket until it is destroyed. L-3
Brashear accelerated the development of the beam
director to meet the demanding schedule and
performance requirements of the THEL/ACTD program.
THEL/ACTD will use a high-energy chemical laser to
protect civilians, friendly forces and military assets
against rocket attacks. It demonstrated the
effectiveness of using high energy lasers to defeat
short-range terrorist threats such as Katyusha
rockets, mortars and artillery.
