SOMETIME later this year, an armoured car with a curious-looking turret on top of it will trundle out to an army proving ground near Waynesville, Missouri. A powerful laser beam will shoot from the turret and start blowing a field strewn with landmines and cluster bomblets to kingdom come. At least, that’s the theory.
The US Army is developing the laser-based de-mining method, dubbed Zeus, as a way of clearing mines left on airfields and roads during battles or by retreating enemy forces. The trials will be the first chance for the Army’s de-mining experts to see if the technique…
