Laser-based attacks on Canadian navy ships to be thwarted by system in development from Cassidian

Posted by John McHaleVALCARTIER, Quebec, 4 June 2011. Engineers at Cassidian in Manching, Germany are developing technology protect Canadian naval vessels from laser-based attacks in littoral areas and harbors. The program called Laser Optical Countermeasures and Surveillance Against Threat Environment Scenarios or LOCATES is being run by officials at the Defense Research Development Canada (DRDC) in Valcartier, Quebec.LOCATES is designed to counter the threats made by laser designators and laser-guided weapons. Littoral waters increase the vulnerability of ships as it cuts down on the ability of the ships to detect the attacks in enough time to counter them.The main thrust of the LOCATES program is to create a way to detect and track the threats and then respond with a laser countermeasure system. The first prototype is scheduled to be delivered by 2013. Technology currently being developed by DRDC will be used for LOCATES.