PENTAGON READY FOR POST-MTHEL LASER

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The U.S. Defense Department has been preparing tolaunch a project to replace the Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser, rejectedby the U.S. Army after more than a decade of development. Officials said the Pentagon was reviewing an offer by Northrop Grummanfor a much smaller and cheaper version of M-THEL. The Northrop Grumman proposalcalls for a $25 million system that could be transported by an 18-wheeltruck.