Idella Cantrell

US Army - HELSTF (High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility)

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.