Humvee with Laser Cannon in Afghanistan

The problem GI's are facing regarding explosives, etc. is unexploded ordinance that they don't know about... ie: roadside bombs, booby traps, etc.
The Zeus is used for neutralizing ordinance that has already been identified and must be disposed of from a safe distance.

However, you still raise a good point, because deployment of the Zeus is currently in limbo due to a lack of acquisition funding. There is ongoing development and a few prototype vehicles overseas helping out in warzones, but if we are to get these lasers out to US soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan then you need to write your congressman... Especially if your congressman is on the Defense Appropriations Committee.

Intelgurl



Thank you Intel for your insight.

However, my thoughts are that if this device can be used to scan the surrounding area prior to entering any suspective booby traps, roadside bombs, etc... allowing for a proactive measure to destroy these devices before any attempts to enter into those areas that have proven in the past to be a concern. At this time, it appears that we only react to the event after the worst is done. Which in itself, a very expensive outcome.
Cost of Lives, equipment, etc.. That could be saved in monies for what was destroyed would cover any argrument for the Appropriation of these funds.
Its like a insurance policy, pay now or pay big time later! Right now were paying for the lack of insight.... those that have lost the most would agree!

Thank you again for you insight!!

Zeus is pretty cool, but it's important to remember that it is only capable of destroying ordnance above ground.

It is of no use against buried mines, nor does it have an integrated mine-sweeping or mine-sensing capability that I'm aware of. It's just a cool and handy laser zapper.

As for combat use -- against humans, there are issues regarding the use of high-powered lasers on the battlefield, and not just a few, and they are technical, not just moral, political or anything like that.

There are many simple and effective ways to defend against and disable light-based weapons on the battlefield, and secondary casualties are inevitable if lasers are used by friendly forces in any sort of concentrated formation.

Lasers, regardless of operating frequency, are extremely dangerous to anything with eyes -- friend or foe -- and light has an annoying habit of reflecting back from targets in unexpected ways.

Still, it's a very cool system, and a harbinger of things to come.

After all, being able to chop up one's enemies without making a sound from a long way off is not a capability any self-respecting 21st-century general would want to be without.

Zeus may not be the one to do that, but there are other projects out there that most certainly can, do and will.

[edit on 10/8/2004 by Majic]

I remember reading that the the laser isn't used in combat as it breaks some rules (Geneva convention?)

The greatest "benefit" of it wouldn't be if it killed outright, - that would only leave corpses, but imagine the fear aspect if all it did was fry the eyeballs.

You would have armies of disabled / blind soldiers who would all need caring for and evacuating. It would scare populations much more than outright death....

... and I think thats one of the reasons its banned from combat...

Originally posted by mwm1331
So does this laser have enough power to kill humans? The reason i ask is that every time the coalition forces in Iraq or afghanstan bomb and isurgent position there is collateral damage. Could a laser be used to do the same thing in a more targeted way?

Originally posted by Netchicken
I remember reading that the the laser isn't used in combat as it breaks some rules (Geneva convention?)

Netchicken, you are referring to the Blinding Laser Weapons Protocol which is an international humanitarian law not to use lasers in battle for the expressed purpose of blinding your opponent.

Here are the protocol's highlights:

Article 1
It is prohibited to employ laser weapons specifically designed, as their sole combat function or as one of their combat functions, to cause permanent blindness to unenhanced vision, that is to the naked eye or to the eye with corrective eyesight devices. The High Contracting Parties shall not transfer such weapons to any State or non-State entity.

Article 2
In the employment of laser systems, the High Contracting Parties shall take all feasible precautions to avoid the incidence of permanent blindness to unenhanced vision. Such precautions shall include training of their armed forces and other practical measures.

Article 3
Blinding as an incidental or collateral effect of the legitimate military employment of laser systems, including laser systems used against optical equipment, is not covered by the prohibition of this Protocol.

(Article 3 is the common loop hole for the new breed of lasers weapons....)

Article 4
For the purpose of this protocol "permanent blindness" means irreversible and uncorrectable loss of vision which is seriously disabling with no prospect of recovery. Serious disability is equivalent to visual acuity of less than 20/200 Snellen measured using both eyes.

It is interesting to note that one of the reasons this protocol was established was the horrific results of the Iran/Iraq war where Iraq used blinding lasers as an offensive, anti-personnel weapon... there are over 4,000 documented incidents of lasers being used for the expressed purpose of blinding the Iranian soldiers during that conflict.

Sources & a little "light" reading:

GlobalSecurity.org; Iraq & Blinding Anti-Personnel Lasers

McCall, Blinded By The Light: International Law And The Legality Of Anti-Optic Laser Weapons, (1997)

Overholt, The Use Of Lasers As Antipersonnel Weapons, 1998-November Army Lawyer 3

Parks, Memorandum Of Law: Travaux Preparatoires And Legal Analysis Of Blinding Laser Weapons Protocol, 1997-June

Peters, Blinding Laser Weapons: New Limits On The Technology Of Warfare, pp 733 (1996)

Strong, Blinding Laser Weapons And Protocol IV: Obscuring The Humanitarian Vision, pp 237 (1996)





[edit on 8-10-2004 by intelgurl]