Laser test vehicle from the 70s (MTU?)

[sferrin]

This was being tested around the time of the Airborne Laser Laboratory. As I recall they talk about MTU in the book "The New High Ground: Strategies and Weapons of Space-Age War " and mention it shooting down TOW missiles.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/all.htm

 

[JC Carbonel]

Interesting ! there were also a German project on Leopard chassis with an extandable arm carrying an aiming mirror so it could shoot at ground target. More recently I think I have seen another artist impression for an Israeli lasgun tank ...

JCC

 

[sferrin]

'nother picture of the MTU

 

[flateric]

...

 

[sferrin]

MTU (1975)MTU (Mobile Test Unit) a 30 kW electrically-excited CO2 laser built by the U.S. It was housed in a Marine Corps LVTP-7 tracked landing vehicle. Reportedly destroyed winged and helicopter target drones in tests, but results were reported inconclusive.
http://laserstars.org/history/starwars.html
Supposedly they also downed a couple TOWs with it as well.

 

[moin1900]

LVTP-7 MTU color picture.
https://research.archives.gov/id/6387000
Artist's concept of a Laser Air Defense Weapon
https://research.archives.gov/id/6386998