Israel Matzav

Northrop Grumman offers to complete laser canon to stop Kassams

Northrop Grumman Corporation has offered to complete the construction of a laser canon to shoot down short-range rockets whose construction had been suspended by both the United States military and by Israel due to budgetary considerations. The company believes that the laser canon could be effective in stopping Kassam rockets shot from Gaza at Israel.

On the eve of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's visit to Washington last month, a delegation of Northrop Grumman representatives offered to revive the laser canon known as Nautilus during talks with defense officials in Tel Aviv.

According to YNet, the project could be completed within two years. Northrop Grumman hoped Olmert would raise the issue during talks in the Pentagon with US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Nautilus was originally conceived in the nineties as an answer to Katyusha attacks on northern Israel.

The US and Israel spent some $400 million on the project. The laser canon achieved its purpose but the prototype was impractical. Military experts realized the need for a smaller, more practical device.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:17 AM