Northrop Will Have 100kW Lasers by End of 2008

Cool.

www.dailytech.com...

Laser weapons may be a battlefield reality by the end of 2008

Laser weapons are an interesting subject that has been a staple of science fiction and movies for decades. Laser weapons will become a reality on the battlefield at some point -- though exactly when that point will be is a subject of debate.

When it comes to laser weapons there are two basic types: chemical and solid-state. The chemical lasers are powered by chemicals that would make them hazardous on most battlefields to the soldiers deploying the weapon systems. That makes the solid-state laser a more viable option for many weapon systems.

I enjoyed yopur article and find it credible This was an a period of extream interest and personnel research during in the 80's when Soviet systems were farther along in devevopment but the hangup was the enormous amount of energy used to power the system which was resolved by using a two trailered vehical. Depolyment problems became of magnitude concern. the convoys had to add weather station equipment and radar tracking systens. The other problem was controling the focusing aspect to control the actual lenght of the beam rather than it penitrate the target and keep going. These were agravating problems yet not without a sovable solutions. During the 80's there were constant accusations of russians illuminating the crewmen on various shuttles, resulting in retna burns, all of which were denied as mere speculation.

Particle beam weaponry was also following closely behind described as a controled lightening bolt blast upward yet nothing more was ever said regarding these programs anyone with interst plese let us know