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?