Guess the vehicle in the background..

[87AccordsterLx]

grave diggers!!!! lol....

well all I know is that thoses stupid cops pulled me over for speeding and they used LIDAR those BASTARDS!!!!!

[Sabz5150]

Originally posted by s0crates82
Sabz-

Did some research on LIDAR:
(LIDAR - LIght Detection And Ranging (Laser Radar = Optical Radar) ) -www.nasa.gov

Found out that a LIDAR system is actually aboard the B-2,
to help detect, and therefore help reduce, contrail emissions...
http://www.ophir.com/pilot_alert_system.htm

Found that the Navy has been spending a couple million in
it's FY budgets to help develop the thing. Seems one of
their biggest problems with it is a lack of projection range.
That brings it's current tactical effectiveness into question.
At airshows, planes are being displayed, that is, they want
the folks at the show to see them, so they fly low and slow.
I'm not terribly sure that the current state of the art is up
to detecting the B-2 if it doesn't want to be found... yet.
Now, when the technology does reach a state where it
is effective against long-range contacts, regardless of
weather and distance, then I think Northrop Grumman
and the US Govt. have something to worry about. Besides,
like I said, the B-2 doesn't fly unless there has been some
major recon beforehand. Who's to say that another type
of attack may be more effective against a
LIDAR-protected installation? When Germany attacked the fortresses of
Belgium in WWII, they first sent grenadier brigades,
THEN the luftwaffe and panzer divisions.

...I'm noticing something though, everything I can find about LIDAR
has something to do with the US Government, be it military, environmental,
or space-exploration. Nothing from foreign contractors, governments,
or other such agencies.

So I gotta wonder, does anybody else have
this stuff? If not it really isn't a threat, now.. is it?

now about the THEL project,

the videos can be found at TRW (the project developer)
www.trw.com

that's some cool stuff, but the argument arises again,
we have it and they don't, so why worry?

All the Russians (or any government) has to do in order to learn our technology is to watch the Discovery Channel for a while :lol Most stealth technology comes from building an aircraft with no right angles. Not too difficult. The other parts you'd need for that specific of an application (metals, radar deadening paints, heat-resistant coatings, etc etc etc.) should be very easy to acquire with the right amount of cash.

LIDAR?! You can buy police speed detectors with LIDAR in them. Same basic technology, just in a portable, easy to carry package.

As for THEL, read very closly...

"The cooperative Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) Demonstrator ACTD was initiated by a memorandum of agreement between the United States and the Government of Israel on 18 July 1996. "

If there was any type of governmental agreement there, they probably had a hand in building and/or using it. And with the Israeli people combatting with the Palesteinans, they're gonna need money. I'd think a laser-based missle defense system would go for a decent price (best check eBay). Ever wondered what would happen if you reprogrammed a THEL system to target aircraft instead of just missiles?

That just might be the right amount of cash to purchase things like, oh... radar deadening paints, lightweight metals, you get the point.

Maybe we aren't the only ones to own it.

-5150