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The Pentagon has plans to deploy its first ever ship-mounted laser next year, a disruptive, cutting-edge weapon capable of obliterating small boats and unmanned aerial vehicles with a blast of infrared energy.
Navy researches say so far the laser is 12 for 12 in testing, destroying its targets 100 percent of the time. Officials who briefed the press on the laser gun -- which the Navy calls a "directed energy pulse weapon" -- say it has non-lethal functions too, and may be used to send warning signals to other vessels.
One of its major advantages, the Navy said, is its relatively low cost to operate. "Its weapon round costs about $1 to shoot," said Rear Admiral Matthew Klunder, chief of Naval Research. Although the unit cost is higher -- at around $32 million to produce.
Originally posted by retirednature
I hope that the US Navy is keeping a close eye on this project and not allowing it to be traded with other countries.
Originally posted by MysteriousHusky
Keeping in mind that funding Defense is one of the largest items in the Budget, US Navy ships have a history of experimenting with various forms technology. Deploying lasers will be the latest chapter following sound and electromagnetic cannon tests. Suffice to say, I wonder if the private blackop companies like Blackwater already have this stuff of if they will become middle-men to the international weapons market once ship lasers go on the retail block.
P.S. Blackwater's name changed to Xe and again to Academi.
www.huffingtonpost.com...edit on 8-4-2013 by MysteriousHusky because: addition
Originally posted by jjkenobi
Can the laser be deflected by a mirror? Or absorbed somehow?
Originally posted by jjkenobi
Can the laser be deflected by a mirror? Or absorbed somehow?
Originally posted by retirednature
War, soon enough, will resemble Star Wars.
Originally posted by jjkenobi
Can the laser be deflected by a mirror? Or absorbed somehow?
Originally posted by Reaper62
reply to post by kuhl
Yeah i agree that was a laser shot
And yeah youre right Boeing made an airbourne laser platform out of a modified 747 some years ago, but they scapped it due to high operating costs. Sounds like they've gone for a ship mounted platform instead
Originally posted by retirednature
Just imagine these lasers being installed on US soil... or even an array of them just off the coasts. I hope that the US Navy is keeping a close eye on this project and not allowing it to be traded with other countries.
Lasers!
Originally posted by Reaper62
reply to post by kuhl
Yeah i agree that was a laser shot
And yeah youre right Boeing made an airbourne laser platform out of a modified 747 some years ago, but they scapped it due to high operating costs. Sounds like they've gone for a ship mounted platform instead