ZEUS Laser detonates mines from afar

We all know that Zeus is the god of thunder, hurling thunderbolts down at whom he is displeased with. I guess that is an apt name to describe the US Army’s latest “toy” – laser beams attached to the roofs of Humvees, also known as HLONS (HMMWV Laser Ordnance Neutralization System), or the ZEUS system. It will comprise of a solid-state “directed-energy weapon” that can remotely detonate IED’s, surface mines, and UXO’s (UneXploded Ordinances) from as far as 300 meters away.

How does it do that? Simple – it will heat the target’s explosive filler to the point of ignition, and it does not matter how that particular ordinance is wired. All ZEUS needs would be a clear line of sight to the explosives, firing up to 2,000 times a day. Detonation will take around half a minute on average to occur.

Sounds like the equivalent of strapping a Superman to a Humvee, taking advantage of his laser vision to sweep across the land ahead, no?

Edwin Kee
Categories: Military
Tags: army, laser, us army