U.S. Army Nautilus program laser explodes rocket in flight.

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

04.28.1996

Courtesy Photo

War.gov         

In a test conducted at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., in February 1996, the U.S. Army used a laser to destroy a short-range rocket in flight at the U.S. Army Space and Strategic Command's High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility as part of the Nautilus program. This was the first time a laser engaged and destroyed a short-range rocket in flight. This was also the first time that a warhead was exploded in flight by any developmental or operational weapon system. The laser used for the Nautilus program is a megawatt class, continuous wave Deuterium Fluoride chemical laser known as Mid-Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser or MIRACL.

(DoD photo.)

• Date Taken: 04.28.1996
• Date Posted: 07.27.2025 11:12
• Photo ID: 9207278
• VIRIN: 960429-D-D0439-7275
• Resolution: 224x322
• Size: 12.21 KB
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)