WASHINGTON. May 4: A US-Israell laser weapon passed its first test by hitting a stationary target and will be used by Israel to protect its northern border from guerilla rockets. The New York Times said today, reports AFP.

The Tactical High Energy Laser consisting of a laser and its tracking system were fired against stationary targets at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico last week. US military officials told the daily.

If it passes the next test, involving a moving Katyusha rocket, possibly later this month, the system may be shipped to Israel for more testing and deployment.

"To my knowledge, no nation has ever deployed an anti missile system based on a

laser." said Lt Colonel Rick Lehner, spokesman for the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization at the Pentagon.

A spokesman for the Israeli Defense Ministry told the dally the laser system would be deployed along Israel's northern border after Israel withdraws from Lebanon in the summer

Designed and build by California contractor TRW For Israel and the US Army, the system's development has cost so far 190 million dollars.

Although the laser system's exact range, power and repetition rate tor firing are classified. Lt General John Costello, commander of the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command, suggested it would have an initial range of four miles.