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Put your Laser to the Test and let us take you into the Future at HELSTF!

The High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF) is the ideal choice to host exploration of future laser technologies. Appointed the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command's (SMDC) "Directed Energy Center for Test and Evaluation," HELSTF boasts a unique infrastructure with extensive capabilities for ground-based directed energy testing and evaluation. Located on White Sands Missile Range, in southern New Mexico, HELSTF has access to 3,200 square miles of controlled land and 7,000 square miles of controlled air space in which to conduct live fire, lethality, and vulnerability testing, as well as laser/material interactions.

As defense systems have emerged employing expanded high-energy laser technologies, the need for a test facility equipped to accommodate an array of test scenarios arose. HELSTF has met that need by transforming an already proven test site with an experienced test team into a facility poised for the 21st Century. As a result, HELSTF is able to support a wide variety of laser developmental and operational tests for not only combat and materiel developers, but also for industry and academia.

MISSION STATEMENT

Provide Directed Energy Expertise to the Warfighter and the Nation by:

  • Serving as the SMDC Test and Evaluation Facility for Current and Future Directed Energy Technologies

  • Supporting DE Technology Integration into the Army Objective Force and Future Combat System

  • Supporting DoD/DoE and Other Service High-Energy Laser Testing

World View

Location

HELSTF is located within the boundaries of White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, approximately 60 miles north of El Paso, Texas, 25 miles west of Alamogordo, New Mexico, and 35 miles east of Las Cruces, New Mexico, on US Highway 70.

 Orbital View of HELSTF

For additional information, please e-mail, visit White Sands Missile Range, or mail to:

Deputy Commander, US Army Space and Missile Defense Command
HELSTF Directorate, SMDC-AC-H
White Sands Missile Range, NM 88002-5148

Last updated 09 April 2002

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