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During a private tour of the Jefferson Lab in Newport News, VA., on Friday, FoxNews.com saw scientists blast unprecedented levels of power into a prototype accelerator, producing a supercharged electron beam that can burn through 20 feet of steel per second.
While Carr acknowledges that this is not “something that we are going to wave a wand at and it’s going to appear” -- in fact, the Navy doesn't expect to hit the ultimate megawatt goal until the 2020s -- there have been several incremental victories that have pushed this project ahead of schedule that have scientists and program managers excited.
Railguns are even further off in the distance, possibly by 2025, the Navy has said. But the demonstration of the maritime laser demonstrator this week proves that some laser weapons are just around the corner: Northrop Grumman experts aim to have the final product ready by June of 2014.
Originally posted by Bedlam
reply to post by Alien Abduct
Because one mode of anti-ship attack expected to appear in future combat is a swarm of small missiles. It's expected to overwhelm conventional CIWS and current targeting systems, so Navy is developing means to target and engage arbitrarily large numbers of incoming munitions with rapidly targetable fast cycling systems like this. Another thing you would see if you worked in that field is a New Thing wherein ships paint targets with unique laser signatures using OAM coding, then one or more sources release flocks of seeker-killers that use flocking algorithms that hunt down tagged targets. The tag painted on the target 'attracts' appropriate counter-munitions.
I'm pretty sure that's not classified anymore. If not, whoops.edit on 9-4-2013 by Bedlam because: (no reason given)
Seems like this is being done for the news cycle only. They canceled the program for the laser mounted on the 747 due to technology/feasibility issues. I wonder what has changed since then (if anything) ?
This is why N. Korea has signed it's potential death certificate. We have these and an untold and unknown amount of weapons available to use against threats. Thats why we develope them.
Originally posted by mysterioustranger
This is why N. Korea has signed it's potential death certificate. We have these and an untold and unknown amount of weapons available to use against threats. Thats why we develope them.
Originally posted by TheLaughingGod
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the free electron laser, its capabilities are far more impressive than this laser, I think the Navy will start using it in 2014.
Originally posted by Agit8dChop
Reading the article
- its not big enough to take down planes, only small drones
- it doesn't function well in cloudy, smokey, hazy, dusty, rainy weather.
The company has tested the laser system in a variety of weather conditions, including snow, sunlight, and rain.
Originally posted by mideast
Originally posted by mysterioustranger
This is why N. Korea has signed it's potential death certificate. We have these and an untold and unknown amount of weapons available to use against threats. Thats why we develope them.
Yeah , you are developed and very wealthy. You just didn't know that. But new war will unveil that.
Is it the old Nazism or I can not see it right ?
Originally posted by TheLaughingGod
reply to post by buddhasystem
Yeah......
I'm still surprised, 4 pages and no one even mentioning a laser that can burn through 20 FEET OF STEEL, in seconds.. while effectively 'celebrating' 'a new age in weapons technology' because of a glorified laser pointer.
Of course, you have your points but at the same time these two weapons will probably interlap a lot in their usage, they'll both target missiles and if effective enough eventually even planes.
The solid state laser might be cheaper, easier to deploy and more energy efficient.. but the destructive potential is pretty lackluster. In other words, it's not flashy enough for me.
Originally posted by yuppa
Originally posted by TheLaughingGod
reply to post by buddhasystem
Yeah......
I'm still surprised, 4 pages and no one even mentioning a laser that can burn through 20 FEET OF STEEL, in seconds.. while effectively 'celebrating' 'a new age in weapons technology' because of a glorified laser pointer.
Of course, you have your points but at the same time these two weapons will probably interlap a lot in their usage, they'll both target missiles and if effective enough eventually even planes.
The solid state laser might be cheaper, easier to deploy and more energy efficient.. but the destructive potential is pretty lackluster. In other words, it's not flashy enough for me.
Here is where the FEL will shine. See the FEL laser May be powered by energy. That is not really a big deal. the FEL is supposed to be rolled out with the new Aircraft carrier coming out in 2014 that is to replace enterprise. It will have its very own reactor and is capable of sustained fire with no atmospheric disruption to the beam. It can also be split into thousands of beams each almost as powerful as the concentrated beam. It fires at room temperature and does not need to be supercooled. The reactor dependant one can fire through 1000 ft of carbon steel in mere seconds, also it will have over the horizon combat ability supposedley. But to not fret CHina has a version coming out soon.edit on 9-4-2013 by yuppa because: i mispelled a few words